Filed Date: April 30, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
On May 1, 2025, Neonu Jewell, a former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and EEO Director at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Acting CEO Dev Jagadesan. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff alleged that she was unlawfully placed on administrative leave and then terminated without severance in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"), the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment.
Jewell began working at DFC in 2022, leading the agency’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI). Following the January 2025 change in presidential administration, she and a deputy were placed on administrative leave under guidance stemming from President Trump’s executive orders targeting DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) programs. Jewell’s access to government systems was revoked, and she was later given the choice to resign without severance or be terminated. She was ultimately removed from her position, while other DFC staff in comparable roles were not.
The plaintiff alleged that Jewell’s designation as a “DEIA employee” was inaccurate and stigmatizing, and that her termination violated her rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection. She claimed she was denied reassignment and severance benefits afforded to similarly situated employees, and that DFC’s actions were retaliatory and based on her perceived political views.
The case was assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.
On August 28, 2025, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim. Defendants argued that Jewell was prohibited from bringing an APA claim because she is a federal employee. Defendants argued Jewel's constitutional claims were prohibited by sovereign immunity because she sought monetary damages, and that the U.S. District Court lacked jurisdiction because the claims should have been brought in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Defendants further argued that Jewel's Fifth Amendment claim failed to allege facts sufficient to state a cognizable liberty or property interest. Plaintiffs filed their response in opposition on September 11, 2025.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Scott Shuchart (5/8/2025)
Brian Chen (6/18/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70025013/parties/jewell-v-jagadesan/
Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)
Branch, David A. (District of Columbia)
Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70025013/jewell-v-jagadesan/
Last updated Oct. 31, 2025, 6:13 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 30, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the US Development Finance Corporation.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Development Finance Corporation (Washington, District of Columbia), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-01322
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: