FPF regularly takes the government to court to defend journalists, challenge excessive secrecy, and ensure that government records remain exactly what they are: public property. Here is a summary of our legal efforts:
Fighting Trump’s efforts to keep his records secret
Case: 1:26-cv-01402
Filed: April 24, 2026
Who we’re suing: President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, the Executive Office of the President, the White House Office, Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, the National Archives and Records Administration, and acting Archivist Edward Forst
What we’re asking for: To ensure that the White House and federal agencies abide by the Presidential Records Act, so the most important papers in government become subject to the Freedom of Information Act five years after a presidential term ends.
Counsel and co-plaintiff: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Uncovering the government’s data-sharing agreements
Case: 1:26-cv-00969-RC
Filed: March 20, 2026
Who we’re suing: The Office of Management and Budget
What we’re asking for: The disclosure of administration blueprints that aim to eviscerate privacy protections by drastically expanding data-sharing across federal agencies, states, and third parties.
Counsel: Free Information Group
Enforcing congressional oversight
Case: 1:25-cv-03883
Filed: Nov. 6, 2025
Who we’re suing: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
What we’re asking for: All communications about congressional efforts to visit ICE detention facilities, which ICE has consistently stymied as the agency attempts to evade oversight.
Counsel: Free Information Group
Medicaid data and immigration enforcement
Case: 1:25-cv-03387
Filed: Sept. 24, 2025
Who we sued: Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
What we asked for: An unprecedented agreement granting ICE access to the personal data of 79 million Medicaid enrollees. FPF joined 404 Media in this successful effort to pry loose the agreement.
Counsel: Matthew Cate
Exposing attempts to intimidate journalists from reporting on ICE
Case: 1:25-cv-03385
Filed: Sept. 24, 2025
Who we’re suing: DHS and the Department of Justice
What we’re asking for: Records regarding the administration’s threat to prosecute CNN for reporting on the ICEBlock app.
Counsel: Matthew Cate
Protecting investigative reporting
Case: 1:25-cv-03386
Filed: Sept. 24, 2025
Who we’re suing: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence
What we’re asking for: The basis for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s claims that a national security reporter’s work was tantamount to harassment, to challenge attempts to smear journalists.
Counsel: Matthew Cate
Foreign influence and accountability
Case: 1:25-cv-02432
Filed: July 28, 2025
Who we’re suing: DOJ
What we’re asking for: The legality of the administration accepting a $400 million plane from Qatar; specifically seeking the DOJ memorandum that deemed the gift “permissible” as long as it was transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation at the end of his current term.
Counsel: American Oversight
Challenging journalist visa revocations
Case: 1:25-cv-01801-BAH
Filed: June 9, 2025
Who we’re suing: The Department of State
What we’re asking for: Relevant State Department records to fight back against the detention and visa revocation of student journalists without evidence of wrongdoing.
Counsel: Loevy & Loevy
