Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence et al. v. Kennedy et al.

Docket No.
1:25-cv-00342
District Court
Rhode Island

Goal

  • Block enforcement of an agency action
  • Declaration that agency action is unlawful
  • Vacate agency action

Issues

Why This Matters:

Why This Matters:

The plaintiffs, nonprofit organizations that provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homeless individuals, allege that the Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development’s conditioning of federal funding on compliance with vague conditions related to “gender ideology” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” violates the Administrative Procedure Act, Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, the First and Fifth Amendments, and exceeds executive authority.

Potential Impact:

Potential Impact:

Conditioning state funding on vague notions of “gender ideology” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” will delay scientific advancement and exacerbate health disparities.

69 Major Filings

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Related Litigation

Current Status

Briefing is ongoing

Legal Issues

Administrative Procedure Act - Lack of Statutory Authority, Administrative Procedure Act - Contrary to Law, Administrative Procedure Act - Arbitrary and Capricious, Administrative Procedure Act - Contrary to Constitutional Right, Administrative Procedure Act - Without Observance of Procedure Required by Law, Separation of Powers, Spending Clause, Ultra Vires, First Amendment - Free Speech Clause, Fifth Amendment - Due Process Clause

Topic(s)

Funding Termination/Cuts

Date Filed
July 21, 2025
Case Type
Civil
Court Type
District Court
Court
Rhode Island
Judge
DuBose, Melissa R. Appointed By: Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Plaintiff(s)
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence; California Partnership to End Domestic Violence; Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault; District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; Iowa Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; Montana Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Oregon Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Valorus; Violence Free Minnesota; Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance; Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault; House of Hope Community Development Corporation; Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness; Community Care Alliance; Foster Forward; Haus of Codec
Lead Counsel For Plaintiff(s)
Democracy Forward Foundation
Defendant(s)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Department of Health and Human Services; Andrew Gradison; Administration for Children and Families; Jim O'Neill; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Thomas J. Engels; Health Resources & Services Administration; Arthur Kleinschmidt; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Scott Turner; Department of Housing and Urban Development
Lead Counsel for Defendant(s)
Government