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Protect Democracy Project v. Office of Management and Budget

No. 1:25-cv-01111 District · Decided Decided
Court
D.D.C.
dcd
Judge
Emmet G. Sullivan 42
Decided
Jul 28, 2025
Filed
Apr 14, 2025
Judge (CL)
Emmet G. Sullivan 42
Filed (CL)
Apr 14, 2025
CL Status
terminated

Case Overview

Protect Democracy Project sued the Office of Management and Budget over the removal of the Public Apportionments Database, despite the statutory requirements to maintain a database where the public can access apportionment documents under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The Application

History

OMB closed the Public Apportionments Database, eliminating public access to apportionment documents that the statute explicitly required to remain available, thereby preventing the public from accessing information that federal law mandated be disclosed.

The Conclusion

The Court held that OMB's removal of the Public Apportionments Database violated the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, as the statute unambiguously required the agency to maintain public access to apportionment documents.

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Docket

CourtListener ↗

Outcome History (4)

  1. Jul 21, 2025 District
    Preliminary injunction denied Relief denied

    Motion for Preliminary Injunction was denied.

  2. Jul 21, 2025 District
    Summary judgment granted Partial relief

    Motion for Partial Summary Judgment was granted.

  3. Jul 23, 2025 District
    Stay denied Relief denied

    Defendants' Motion for a Stay Pending Appeal was denied.

  4. Jul 28, 2025 District
    Merits judgment Full relief Final

    Final judgment in favor of Plaintiff against Defendants.

Federal Court TMR-01db00cd Public Apportionments Database Closure May 18, 2026

Case Analysis

Issue

Whether the Office of Management and Budget violated statutory requirements under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 by removing the Public Apportionments Database despite mandates to maintain a publicly accessible repository of apportionment documents.

Rule

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 requires agencies to maintain a publicly accessible database of apportionment documents. Under the Administrative Procedure Act, agency actions that conflict with statutory mandates constitute arbitrary and capricious or ultra vires agency action subject to judicial review.

Analysis

OMB closed the Public Apportionments Database, eliminating public access to apportionment documents that the statute explicitly required to remain available, thereby preventing the public from accessing information that federal law mandated be disclosed.

Conclusion

The Court held that OMB's removal of the Public Apportionments Database violated the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, as the statute unambiguously required the agency to maintain public access to apportionment documents.

Overview

Protect Democracy Project sued the Office of Management and Budget over the removal of the Public Apportionments Database, despite the statutory requirements to maintain a database where the public can access apportionment documents under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

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