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By Margot Cleveland, X, (Complicit Clergy), March 14, 2025
Here ‘s an overall summary from Grok regarding the major developments involving this lawsuit (win comments in red added by us):
Below is a summary of the major developments by date in the federal case United States Conference of Catholic Bishops v. United States Department of State et al., case number 1:25-cv-00465, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (D.D.C.). This summary is based on available docket information from sources like CourtListener, Justia, and posts on X, reflecting events up to the current date of March 14, 2025.
January 24, 2025
Funding Suspension: The U.S. Department of State suspended funding to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for refugee resettlement pursuant to Executive Order 14169, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid.” This action, though not part of the court docket, is the precipitating event cited in the complaint, setting the stage for the lawsuit.
February 18, 2025
Case Filed: The USCCB filed the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and their respective agency heads. The complaint, filed with a $405 fee, alleges that the funding suspension violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Attachments included a civil cover sheet, multiple summonses, and exhibits (e.g., Cooperative Agreements, suspension letter). The case was initially assigned to Judge Amir H. Ali.
February 19, 2025
Summons Issued: Eight summonses were electronically issued to the defendants, the U.S. Attorney, and the U.S. Attorney General.
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Preliminary Injunction: The USCCB filed a motion requesting a TRO and preliminary injunction to halt the funding suspension, supported by a memorandum, proposed order, and declarations (e.g., Canny and Areiyaee Declarations) with exhibits like cooperative agreements and correspondence.
Reassignment: The case was randomly reassigned from Judge Amir H. Ali to Judge Trevor N. McFadden.
February 20, 2025
Motion Hearing: Judge McFadden held a hearing on the USCCB’s motion for a TRO and preliminary injunction. The TRO request was denied, but the preliminary injunction issue remained pending. The case was referred to mediation, with an order forthcoming. Deadlines were set: USCCB’s supplemental briefing and declaration due by February 24, 2025; the government’s opposition due by February 26, 2025; and USCCB’s reply due by February 27, 2025. A hearing on the preliminary injunction was scheduled for February 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2. (TRUMP WIN)
Order Issued: Judge McFadden formally denied the TRO portion of the motion, leaving the preliminary injunction under consideration.
Referral to Mediation: A minute order directly referred the case to Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey for mediation, requiring the parties to submit negotiator names by 5:00 PM on February 21, 2025, and prepare for in-person mediation the following week.
February 21, 2025
Notices of Appearance: Attorneys Connor Philip Mui, Audrey Cosette Payne, and Thomas Hunter Mason filed notices of appearance on behalf of the USCCB, indicating additional legal representation joining the case.
February 24, 2025
USCCB Supplemental Briefing: Per the court’s February 20 order, the USCCB submitted supplemental briefing and a declaration to support its preliminary injunction request (assumed based on the deadline; specific filing details are not yet public).
February 26, 2025
Government’s Opposition: The government filed its opposition to the preliminary injunction (assumed based on the deadline; specifics not detailed in available sources). State Department Letter: Posts on X indicate the State Department filed a letter notifying the court of a material change: it had terminated its contracts with the USCCB, suggesting the dispute was now a contract claim potentially under the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims rather than a district court APA challenge (exact filing date inferred as around this time based on X posts from February 27).
February 27, 2025
USCCB Reply: The USCCB filed its reply to the government’s opposition (assumed based on the deadline). X Post Notification: An X post by @ProfMJCleveland highlighted the State Department’s termination of contracts, framing it as a significant shift that could redirect the case to the Court of Federal Claims.
February 28, 2025
Preliminary Injunction Hearing: The scheduled hearing on the preliminary injunction took place before Judge McFadden at 10:00 AM. While the outcome is not fully detailed in available sources, subsequent developments suggest it did not immediately resolve in the USCCB’s favor, leading to further action.
March 11, 2025
Ruling on Preliminary Injunction: Judge McFadden denied the USCCB’s emergency bid for a preliminary injunction to restore its State Department contract for refugee resettlement. As reported by @kyledcheney on X, the judge ruled that the dispute was contractual in nature and should have been brought in the Court of Federal Claims, not a district court under the APA. (TRUMP WIN)
March 12, 2025
Notice of Interlocutory Appeal: The USCCB filed a notice of interlocutory appeal (Document #38) challenging Judge McFadden’s denial of the preliminary injunction, as noted in an X post by @trumplitigation with a linked PDF.
March 14, 2025
Order on Motion for Injunction: An order related to the injunction motion (Document #41) was filed, as reported by @trumplitigation
on X at 13:26 CDT. (TRUMP WIN)
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