Case: Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright
1:26-cv-00928 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: March 17, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
The Environmental Defense Fund filed this lawsuit on March 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Energy, its Secretary Christopher Wright, the National Archives and Records Administration, and Acting Archivist James Byron. The complaint alleged that multiple DOE political appointees, including Seth Cohen, Travis Fisher, and Joshua Loucks, extensively used personal email accounts to conduct government business related to a "Climate Working Group" that was convened to challenge climate science and support EPA's repeal of its 2009 Endangerment Finding regarding greenhouse gases, in violation of the Federal Records Act⁻. EDF brought four counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and mandamus theory, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to compel defendants to preserve and recover the unlawfully removed records, refer the matter to the Attorney General, and comply with their duties under the Federal Records Act⁻.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Jinan Abufarha (3/18/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72502935/parties/environmental-defense-fund-v-wright/
Eisenberg, Lynn (District of Columbia)
Jacobson, Daniel F. (District of Columbia)
Robinson, John (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72502935/environmental-defense-fund-v-wright/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:11 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 17, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
EDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization dedicated to finding practical solutions to environmental problems based on law, policy, science, and economics.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Archivist of the U.S.
National Archives and Records Administration
Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00928
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Case Summary of Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47913/ (last updated 3/18/2026).