← All Cases Coverage by Bryan K. Randolph · BrynoDC

American Council of Learned Societies v. McDonald (NEH suit 2025)

No. 1:25-cv-03657 District · Decided Decided
Court
Federal Court
nysd
Judge
Colleen McMahon
Decided
May 8, 2026
Filed
May 1, 2025
Judge (CL)
Colleen McMahon
Filed (CL)
May 1, 2025
CL Status
terminated

Case Overview

The American Council of Learned Societies sued the Trump administration over actions taken to dismantle the National Endowment for the Humanities, including the mass cancellation of programs and firing of staff.


The Application

History

The mass cancellation of NEH programs and firing of staff implicates both procedural requirements, whether notice, comment periods, and reasoned explanations were provided, and substantive constitutional claims regarding due process for affected employees and potential First Amendment concerns.

The Conclusion

Judge Colleen McMahon rendered a decision on the merits of ACLS's administrative and constitutional challenge to the NEH dismantling, determining the validity of the executive action under applicable law.

Outcome History (4)

  1. Mar 13, 2026 District
    Other Neutral

    Plaintiffs' emergency motion for reconsideration denied.

  2. May 7, 2026 District
    Summary judgment granted Full relief

    Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment granted, full relief to plaintiffs.

  3. May 7, 2026 District
    Summary judgment denied Neutral

    Defendants' motion for summary judgment denied.

  4. May 8, 2026 District
    Merits judgment Partial relief Final

    Clerk's judgment in favor of Plaintiffs, partial relief granted.

Federal Court TMR-431e4448 National Endowment for the Humanities Dismantling May 18, 2026
Subscribe on Substack ↗

This tracker is maintained by BrynoDC and is free because readers fund it. Support