Christopher Schuler, christopher.schuler@sierraclub.org
Oakland, CA – The Sierra Club has filed another lawsuit against the Trump Administration, this time seeking to hold the Office of Management and Budget accountable for its failure to respond to three Freedom of Information Act requests, which seek OMB’s records and communications related to freezing Congressionally appropriated funding, as well as communications between key OMB and the Department of Government Efficiency—or DOGE—staff and external parties who may be influencing federal decision-making.
In addition to ignoring the deadlines mandated by FOIA, OMB has not provided an estimated date of completion for the requests, any responsive documents, or an explanation for withholding these documents – all of which are required by FOIA. Since OMB has violated the law, the Sierra Club brings this lawsuit to hold OMB accountable and to obtain an order requiring the agency to respond to its requests.
“OMB and DOGE have been instrumental in gutting our federal agencies, slashing critical programs, and illegally freezing funds that protect public health, safety, and the environment, said Joya Manjur, an attorney with Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, which brought the case. “Now, OMB is once again breaking the law by not addressing our lawful FOIA requests. The Freedom of Information Act puts it simply: The American people have a right to transparency around the harmful decisions the Trump Administration is making.”
Soon after the 2024 election, tech billionaire and former leader of DOGE, Elon Musk, and Project 2025 co-author and OMB director, Russell Vought, began developing strategies for dismantling the federal executive branch. Notably, in late January 2025, OMB directed agencies to temporarily stop disbursing large swaths of federal funds. Despite several court orders blocking this action, significant amounts of federal funds have remained on hold, impeding numerous environmental, climate, and public health initiatives.
“We have submitted numerous requests and filed multiple FOIA-related lawsuits against this Administration, and we aren’t the only ones being ignored,” Manjur continued. “It is extremely concerning that the Trump Administration has refused to respond to lawful and legitimate public records requests. This isn’t just hiding information from the public, it’s a blatant disregard for the law that allows us to hold the government accountable.”
In January, the Sierra Club submitted two FOIA requests to the agency: one seeking all external communications related to the funding freeze and the other seeking communications from OMB to other federal agencies that administer funds for programs that help advance the Sierra Club’s priorities—including all offices of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office, and more–-and certain other records related to the funding freeze. In February, the Sierra Club submitted a third request seeking external communications between key OMB and DOGE staff, including Vought and Musk, and people connected to fossil fuel and other industries, as well as right-wing political interests and media.
Additional Information:
In addition to this complaint, the Sierra Club has filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration’s Department of the Interior for failing to respond to requests on external communications for key Interior staff, including Secretary Doug Burgum, acting assistant secretaries, and designated DOGE staff; as well as the Department of Energy, for failing to respond to requests for calendars and correspondence from 30 new political appointees, including Secretary Chris Wright and embedded DOGE staffers, among others.
The Sierra Club and dozens of other organizations, news outlets, and individuals have also filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking information regarding the Trump Administration’s use of presidential exemptions that will allow polluting facilities avoid air pollution regulations, like Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), for up to several years. The Trump Administration’s EPA has not released all the requested information for the 47 FOIA requests.
The Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program has launched a robust FOIA accountability effort during this Administration to help the American people see clearly what is happening in President Trump’s government agencies. During Trump’s first Administration, the Sierra Club’s ELP FOIA work was crucial in exposing numerous scandals. Most notably, the Sierra Club’s efforts helped lead to the resignation of Trump’s first EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.