Case: O'Neill v. Hartman

1:25-cv-04228 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Dec. 22, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a lawsuit challenging enforcement of President Trump's January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14168, which, among other things, withdrew federal recognition of transgender people and instructed federal agencies to "protect men and women as biologically distinct sexes."  Plaintiff, a transgender woman and data scientist employed by the National Security Agency (NSA), filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, the Ac…

This is a lawsuit challenging enforcement of President Trump's January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14168, which, among other things, withdrew federal recognition of transgender people and instructed federal agencies to "protect men and women as biologically distinct sexes." 

Plaintiff, a transgender woman and data scientist employed by the National Security Agency (NSA), filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, the Acting Director of the NSA, in his official capacity. She sought declaratory relief, injunctive relief to enjoin the NSA from implementing or enforcing President Trump's January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14168 and related memos and policies, damages, and a jury trial under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for sex-based discrimination and a hostile work environment. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff alleged that, following the Executive Order, the NSA implemented a series of policies that systematically stripped transgender employees of workplace protections, which created a severe and pervasive hostile work environment that interfered with her ability to perform her job. Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby presided over this case.

As of March 15, 2026, the case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Ashley Hamilton (3/15/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72068457/parties/oneill-v-hartman/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Green, Rachel E. (Maryland)

LaGarde, Matthew (Maryland)

Peterson-Fisher, Rebecca (Maryland)

Rothberg, Isabel (Maryland)

Wheeler, Carolyn (Maryland)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04228

Complaint for Damages and Injunctive Relief

O'Neill v. Hartmann

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72068457/oneill-v-hartman/

Last updated April 5, 2026, 3:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12434154.), filed by Sarah O'Neill. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

1 Summons

View on RECAP

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION to Waive Local Rule 102.2(a) Requirement by Sarah O'Neill (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion to Waive 102.2(a) Requirement, # 2 Text of Proposed Order Granting Plaintiff's Motion)(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support of Motion to Waive 102.2(a) Requirement

View on RECAP

2 Text of Proposed Order Granting Plaintiff's Motion

View on RECAP

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

RECAP
3

Summons Issued 21 days as to William J. Hartman.(kb3s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

4

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Carolyn Wheeler (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12454561.) by Sarah O'Neill(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 7, 2026

Jan. 7, 2026

5

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Rebecca Peterson-Fisher (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12454579.) by Sarah O'Neill(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 7, 2026

Jan. 7, 2026

6

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Rachel E. Green (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12454587.) by Sarah O'Neill(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 7, 2026

Jan. 7, 2026

7

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Isabel Rothberg (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12454599.) by Sarah O'Neill(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 7, 2026

Jan. 7, 2026

8

QC NOTICE: 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filed by Sarah O'Neill needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

9

QC NOTICE: 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filed by Sarah O'Neill needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

10

QC NOTICE: 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filed by Sarah O'Neill needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

11

QC NOTICE: 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filed by Sarah O'Neill needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/08/2026)

Jan. 8, 2026

Jan. 8, 2026

12

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Carolyn Wheeler by Sarah O'Neill. The fee has already been paid.(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

13

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Rebecca Peterson-Fisher by Sarah O'Neill. The fee has already been paid.(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

14

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Rachel E. Green by Sarah O'Neill. The fee has already been paid.(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

15

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Isabel Rothberg by Sarah O'Neill. The fee has already been paid.(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

16

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 12 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Carolyn Wheeler. Directing attorney Carolyn Wheeler to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 1/9/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

17

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 13 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Rebecca Peterson-Fisher. Directing attorney Rebecca Peterson-Fisher to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 1/9/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

18

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 14 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Rachel E. Green. Directing attorney Rachel E. Green to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 1/9/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

19

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 15 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Isabel Rothberg. Directing attorney Isabel Rothberg to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 1/9/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

20

RETURN DOCUMENT ORDER. Signed by Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby on 1/21/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Returned Document)(kb3s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

Jan. 29, 2026

Jan. 29, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 22, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

NSA data scientist and a transgender woman

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

National Security Agency

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 1:25-cv-04228

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Damages

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)

Disparate Impact

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination Basis:

Gender identity

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Transgender

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Transgender

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