Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho et al v. US Department of Health and Human Services et al
Filing
36
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION; GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS' 27 MOTION TO DISMISS; AND DENYING DEFENDANTS' 27 MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. Signed by Chief Judge Thomas O. Rice. (BF, Paralegal)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF
GREATER WASHINGTON AND
NORTH IDAHO; PLANNED
PARENTHOOD OF THE GREAT
NORTHWEST AND THE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS; and
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE
HEARTLAND,
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NO. 2:18-CV-0055-TOR
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT
INJUNCTION; GRANTING IN PART
AND DENYING IN PART
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO
DISMISS; DENYING MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Plaintiffs,
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v.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES and
ALEX MICHAEL AZAR II in his
official capacity as Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services,
Defendants.
BEFORE THE COURT are Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunctive
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Relief (ECF No. 24) and Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for a
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Preliminary Injunction and Cross-Motion to Dismiss or for Summary Judgment
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 1
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(ECF No. 27). This matter was heard with oral argument on April 24, 2018. The
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Court has reviewed the record and files herein, considered the parties’ arguments,
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and is fully informed. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiffs’ Motion for
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Preliminary Injunctive Relief (ECF No. 24) is GRANTED; Defendants’ Motion to
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Dismiss (ECF No. 27) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part; and
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Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 27) is DENIED.
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BACKGROUND
On February 15, 2018, Plaintiffs Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington
and North Idaho, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian
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Islands, and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (collectively “Planned
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Parenthood”) filed this Complaint against Defendants United States Department of
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Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and the Secretary of HHS, Alex Michael
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Azar II. ECF No. 1. Plaintiffs seek to prevent and declare unlawful HHS’s
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decision to terminate Plaintiffs’ grant agreements and end the Teen Pregnancy
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Prevent Program (“TPP Program”). Id. at ¶ 1. Plaintiffs assert claims for
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declaratory and injunctive relief under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”),
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Establishment Clause, and Due Process Clause. Id. at ¶¶ 100-31.
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In the instant motion, Plaintiffs move for preliminary injunctive relief
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enjoining Defendants from terminating without cause Plaintiffs’ five-year
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cooperative agreements under the TPP Program. ECF No. 24 at 8. Defendants
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 2
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oppose Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and request the Court
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dismiss or enter summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs’ claims. ECF No. 27.
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FACTS
Unless otherwise indicated, the following facts are primarily drawn from
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Plaintiffs’ Complaint and documents appended to the instant motion, and are
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accepted as true for the purposes of the motions for preliminary injunction and to
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dismiss. The TPP was created by Congress for the 2010 fiscal year (“FY”). ECF
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No. 1 at ¶ 2. Congress has continued to appropriate funds for the TPP Program
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since 2010 at approximately $110 million annually. Id. at ¶¶ 26-27, 31. The
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appropriations language explains that funds “shall be for making competitive
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contracts and grants to public and private entities to fund medically accurate and
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age appropriate programs that reduce teen pregnancy ….” Id. at ¶ 26; 27-2 at 353;
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Pub.L. 115-141, 132 Stat. 348, 733 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018).
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HHS’s Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) is responsible for implementing
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and administering the TPP Program. ECF No. 1 at ¶ 30. In April 2015, HHS
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issued Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the TPP Program. Id. at ¶
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34. The FOAs required a detailed work plan over the “five-year project period.”
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Id. at ¶ 42; 27-2 at 11 (Ex. A). The FOAs state, “Each year of the approved project
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period, grantees are required to submit a noncompeting application which includes
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a progress report for the current budget year, and work plan, budget and budget
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justification for the upcoming year.” ECF No. 27-2 at 78.
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In July 2015, HHS awarded 81 new TPP Program grants. ECF No. 1. at ¶
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40. In the three TPP Programs at issue, the Notice of Award (“NOA”) forms
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issued in 2015 and again in 2016 listed the project period as July 1, 2015 through
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June 30, 2020. ECF Nos. 1 at ¶ 41; 24-3 (Ex. A-B); 24-5 (Exs. A-C); 24-6 (Exs.
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E-F). The budget period in these awards were only for the relevant year. ECF
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Nos. 24-3 (Ex. A-B); 24-5 (Exs. A-C); 24-6 (Exs. E-F). Plaintiffs assert that over
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the first three years of the latest round of the TPP Program funding, HHS
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consistently commended all three Plaintiffs for their implementation of their
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respective TPP Program projects. ECF No. 1 at ¶ 55.
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In July 2017, HHS awarded FY 2017 funds to Plaintiffs. Id. at ¶ 76. The
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NOAs for 2017 state, “This award also shortens the project period to end on June
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30, 2018 at the end of this budget year.” ECF Nos. 1 at ¶ 77; 24-3 at 54 (Ex. D);
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24-5 at 43 (Ex. C); 24-6 at 565 (Ex. K). On August 1, 2017, Plaintiffs each
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separately wrote to HHS challenging the alleged termination and Defendants did
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not respond. ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 79-80.
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DISCUSSION
I.
Injunction
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Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65, the Court may grant
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preliminary injunctive relief in order to prevent “immediate and irreparable
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 4
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injury.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1)(A). Rule 65 also states that “[b]efore or after
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beginning the hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction, the court may
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advance the trial on the merits and consolidate it with the hearing.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
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65(a)(2).
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At oral argument, the Court questioned the parties as to whether there was
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any reason not to make this action a final injunction. Defendants asserted that
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Plaintiffs had not sought a permanent injunction. On reply, Plaintiffs clarified that
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their priority is a preliminary injunction, but see no reason why the resolution
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should not be final if the Court is ready to resolve the case. The Court finds that
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there is no reason not to decide the issue as a final injunction as it appears that the
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Defendants do not have any additional evidence concerning the decision with
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respect to Plaintiffs’ APA claims. Accordingly, the Court considers Plaintiffs’
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request for a preliminary injunction as a final injunction.
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To be entitled to a permanent or final injunction, a plaintiff must
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demonstrate: “(1) actual success on the merits; (2) that it has suffered an
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irreparable injury; (3) that remedies available at law are inadequate; (4) that the
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balance of hardships justify a remedy in equity; and (5) that the public interest
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would not be disserved by a permanent injunction.” Indep. Training &
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Apprenticeship Program v. California Dep't of Indus. Relations, 730 F.3d 1024,
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1032 (9th Cir. 2013). “The standard for a preliminary injunction is essentially the
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same as for a permanent injunction with the exception that the plaintiff must show
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a likelihood of success on the merits rather than actual success.” Id. (quoting
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Amoco Prod. Co. v. Village of Gambell, 480 U.S. 531, 546 n.12 (1987)).
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Accordingly, the Court’s analysis remains largely the same as if it were
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considering the Plaintiffs’ original motion for preliminary injunction.
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A plaintiff must satisfy each element for injunctive relief. Yet, the Ninth
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Circuit uses a “sliding scale” under which the injunction may be issued if there are
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serious questions going to the merits and the balance of hardships tips sharply in
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the plaintiff’s favor, along with two other Winter factors. All. for the Wild Rockies
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v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131 (9th Cir. 2011) (“[A] stronger showing of one
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element may offset a weaker showing of another.”); see also Farris v. Seabrook,
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677 F.3d 858, 864 (9th Cir. 2012) (“We have also articulated an alternate
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formulation of the Winter test, under which serious questions going to the merits
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and a balance of hardships that tips sharply towards the plaintiff can support
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issuance of a preliminary injunction, so long as the plaintiff also shows that there is
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a likelihood of irreparable injury and that the injunction is in the public interest.”
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(internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
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//
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A. Actual Success on the Merits
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1. APA Claims
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Plaintiffs insist that HHS’s actions must be set aside under the APA as
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HHS’s conduct is arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to law. ECF Nos. 1 at ¶¶
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100-13; 24 at 17.
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a. Grant Policy Statement Applicability
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As an initial matter, Plaintiffs argue that the GPS is not a binding regulation,
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but merely informal internal guidance. ECF No. 29 at 20. The GPS states:
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Recipients are not directly subject to the requirements of HHS Grants
Policy Directives and implementing HHS Grants Administration
Manuals …, which are internal documents guiding HHS operations.
If an OPDIV [HHS Operating Divisions] implements a requirement in
an internal document that does affect recipients, it will not do so by
citing that document; rather, the requirement is placed on the recipient
through explicit coverage in the NoA.
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ECF No. 27-2 at 111 (Ex. B). The GPS explains general terms and conditions that
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are common across all OPDIVs and apply “unless there are statutory, regulatory,
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or award-specific requirements to the contrary (as specified in individual Notices
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of Award).” Id. at 110. The controlling NOAs specify that the order of
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precedence for conflicting or inconsistent policies applicable to the grants are: (1)
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grant program legislation; (2) grant program regulations; (3) award notice
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including terms and conditions; and (4) federal administrative requirements, costs
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principles and audit requirements applicable in this grant. ECF No. 24-5 at 14
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(item 16).
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Defendants respond that the GPS simply explains what is evident as a
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consequence of HHS’s regulations and the ADA, but is not arguing that the GPS
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should be followed at the expense of HHS’s regulations. ECF No. 30 at 16.
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Defendants emphasize that HHS’s “Federal award must include wording to
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incorporate, by reference, the applicable set of general terms and conditions.” ECF
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Id. (quoting 45 C.F.R. § 75.210(b)(2)). Defendants argue that they did not merely
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cite the document, but “placed [it] on the recipient through explicit coverage in the
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NoA” terms and conditions. Id. The NOAs state, “You must comply with all
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terms and conditions outlined in the grant award, including grant policy terms and
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conditions contained in applicable Department of Health and Human Services
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(HHS) Grant Policy Statements (GPS) ….” ECF No. 24-3 at 13. Defendants
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assert that Plaintiffs’ interpretation is clear error because it would require 217
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pages of the GPS to be appended to the NOA every year in order for HHS to rely
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upon its general terms and conditions for grants. ECF No. 30 at 16.
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The Court finds that while the NOAs are controlling, the GPS aids in
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illuminating the general terms and conditions for the TPP Program. The NOAs
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incorporate the GPS by reference as required under 45 C.F.R. § 75.210(b)(2). See
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ECF No. 24-3 at 13. Yet, the GPS also makes clear that “statutory, regulatory, or
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 8
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award-specific requirements” are controlling when they contradict the GPS. ECF
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No. 27-2 at 110. The NOAs also explain that legislation and regulations control
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over conflicting terms and conditions. ECF No. 24-5 at 14. Accordingly, the
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Court will consider the GPS, but regulatory or statutory language controls over any
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conflicting GPS language.
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b. Anti-Deficiency Act
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Defendants contend that Plaintiffs’ request for relief would violate the Anti-
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Deficiency Act (ADA).1 ECF No. 27 at 21. The ADA is a codification of
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Congress’ power over federal spending. U.S. Const. art. 1, § 8, cl. 1; 31 U.S.C. §
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1341. “An officer or employee of the United States Government or of the District
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of Columbia government may not … involve either government in a contract or
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obligation for the payment of money before an appropriation is made unless
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authorized by law.” 31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(B).
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The parties agree Leiter v. United States, 271 U.S. 204 (1926) is the
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controlling case on the ADA. ECF Nos. 27 at 22; 29 at 25; 30 at 11. In Leiter, a
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government agency entered into several leases for office space with terms of four
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The Court notes that the Defendants incorrectly state that Plaintiffs argue
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that HHS has violated the ADA, but neither Plaintiffs’ Complaint nor Motion for
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Preliminary Injunction reference the ADA. ECF Nos. 27 at 21; 29 at 25.
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and five years. Leiter, 271 U.S. at 205. Annual funds covered the first year and
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the lease terms for the next years were specifically made contingent upon
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appropriations for those years. Id. The Supreme Court found an ADA violation
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and held, “A lease to the Government for a term of years when entered into under
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an appropriation available for but one fiscal year, is binding on the Government
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only for that year.” Id. at 207. “Under Leiter and its progeny, the contract ‘dies’ at
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the end of the fiscal year, and may be revived only by affirmative action by the
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government. This ‘new’ contract is then chargeable to appropriations for the
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subsequent year.” U.S. Gen. Accountability Office, 6 GAO-RB pt. C, s. 2,
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Obligation/Expenditure in Excess or Advance of Appropriations (2015).
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Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ view of their TPP Program awards is
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inconsistent with the ADA. ECF No. 27 at 23. Defendants insist that while
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Plaintiffs assert that HHS obliged itself in 2015 to award unappropriated funds
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through 2020, no multi-year obligating authority exists for grants between HHS
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and TPP Program grantees. Id. Defendants emphasize that HHS could not
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lawfully commit the government to a “future payment of money in advance of, or
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in excess of, an existing appropriation.” Id. at 24; Hercules, Inc. v. United States,
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516 U.S. 417, 427 (1996).
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The Funding Opportunity Announcement and Application Instructions
(“Funding Announcement”) state that future funding would be “contingent upon
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the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, and adequate
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stewardship of Federal funds.” ECF Nos. 27 at 24, 27-2 at 39 (Ex. A). Yet,
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Defendants insist that this language must be read in context with other grant
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documents that explain the grantee’s lack of legal rights to future continuation
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awards, and they must be read in light of the ADA. ECF No. 27 at 24. Defendants
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argue that even if the Plaintiffs are correct in the meaning of this document, the
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HHS is not authorized to agree to the future award scheme Plaintiffs describe and
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any agreements that do not comport with Leiter and the ADA are void ab initio.
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Id. Additionally, Defendants contend that the TPP Program appropriation
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specifically appropriates funds “for making competitive contracts and grants.” Id.
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Defendants then argue that Plaintiffs cannot use that statute to prohibit HHS from
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competing FY 2018 funds. Defendants conclude that HHS was legally obliged to
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reserve the option not to give continuation funds, and exercised that option by
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choosing to recompete funds appropriated to the TPP Program by Congress. Id. at
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25.
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Plaintiffs respond that agencies routinely make plans, including entering into
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contracts, beyond the expiration date of their available appropriations. ECF No. 29
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at 26. Plaintiffs argue that the GAO has consistently recognized that an agency
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may enter into a multi-year agreements where, at the time of award, the United
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States incurs no financial obligation beyond current appropriation. Id. A
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Comptroller General decision stated:
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[A] conditional contract which specifically provides that the
government’s liability is contingent upon future availability of
appropriations may be entered into prior to the enactment of an
appropriation act … such contract would become operative only if and
when the appropriation is made and should be given no legal liability
on the part of the government for any payment shall arise until the
appropriation has been made.
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ECF No. 29 at 26; To the Secretary of the Interior, B-140850 (Comp. Gen. Oct. 29,
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1959). Plaintiffs then emphasize that the five-year programmatic approval here
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does not obligate the government to pay money beyond the first year of
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performance. ECF No. 29 at 26-27. Plaintiffs insist that the HHS did not violate
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the ADA by agreeing to work with Plaintiffs for five-year project periods, but it
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did commit itself to acting in a manner that is not arbitrary, capricious, or
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otherwise contrary to law. Id. at 27.
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Defendants argue that the Comptroller General decision was an unusual case
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where Congress passed a statute that conditioned the release of funding on the
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Secretary of the Interior submitting the principal construction contract to Congress
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“for a period of 45 calendar days prior to its execution.” ECF No. 30 at 12; To the
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Secretary of the Interior, B-140850 (Comp. Gen. Oct. 29, 1959). Defendants
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emphasize that the statute entailed “the soliciting of bids and awarding of a
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proposed contract to be conditioned upon the approval or disproval” of Congress
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“and also contingent upon the future authorization by the Congress of sufficient
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funds ….” ECF No. 30 at 12; To the Secretary of the Interior, B-140850 (Comp.
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Gen. Oct. 29, 1959). Defendants then argue that under these specific
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circumstances, the making of a contract contingent on the condition of a specific
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appropriation for that agreement was acceptable. Defendants assert that there is no
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similar statutory authority here. ECF No. 30 at 12.
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The Court agrees with Defendants that the Comptroller General decision is
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distinguishable and is not entirely applicable to the case at hand. Yet, the Court
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finds no violation of the ADA. Defendants are correct that HHS cannot commit
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the government to future payments of money in advance of an existing
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appropriation under the ADA and Leiter. Yet, the Court disagrees that the
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cooperative agreements here obligate the government to pay money until the
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appropriation has been made. The GPS explains that “projects are
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programmatically approved for support in their entirety, but are funded in annual
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increments called budget periods.” ECF No. 27-2 at 156. These budget periods
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then ensure that HHS is compliant with the ADA. Merely because HHS approved
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the project in its entirety, does not mean it committed itself to appropriate money
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for future years beyond the first year. The Funding Announcement also states that
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the award is “contingent upon the availability of funds,” which ensures compliance
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with the ADA. Id. at 39.
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The Court finds that Plaintiffs’ argument does not contravene the ADA, but
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merely alleges that HHS committed itself to not acting arbitrary, capricious, or
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otherwise contrary to law throughout the five-year project period, not that HHS
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was required to appropriate money for each future year. See ECF No. 29 at 27.
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Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs’ interpretation would not violate the
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ADA.
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c. Termination
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The parties dispute whether Defendants’ conduct amounts to a termination
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and the Court addresses this issue before considering the merits of Plaintiffs’ APA
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claims. See ECF Nos. 24 at 18-19; 27 at 27-28; 29 at 14-20. This question
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revolves around whether “period of performance” under the termination definition
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means the “budget period” or the “project period.”
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A termination is defined as “any ending of a Federal award, in whole or in
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part, at any time prior to the planned end of a period of performance.” 45 C.F.R. §
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75.2 (emphasis added). HHS may terminate an award: (1) if the awardee “fails to
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comply with terms and conditions of the award”; (2) “for cause”; or (3) “with the
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consent of” the awardee. ECF Nos. 24 at 18; 29 at 14; 45 C.F.R. § 75.372(a).
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When termination is for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the
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award, HHS must provide grantees “an opportunity to object and provide
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information and documentation challenging the suspension or termination action.”
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ECF No. 24 at 18; 45 C.F.R. § 75.374.
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A “period of performance” is defined as “the time during which the non-
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Federal entity may incur new obligations to carry out the work authorized under
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the Federal award. The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity must
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include start or end dates of the period of performance in the Federal award.” 45
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C.F.R. § 75.2. The definition of “Project period” is referenced to the definition of
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“Period of performance.” Id. The GPS clarifies that “the amount of Federal funds
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authorized for obligation and any future-year commitments, is issued for each
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budget period in the approved project period.” ECF Nos. 27 at 27; 27-2 at 155.
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The GPS further explains that projected levels of future support “are not
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guarantees that the project or program will be funded … and they create no legal
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obligation to provide funding beyond the ending date of the current budget period
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as shown in the NoA.” ECF No. 27-2 at 156.
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Plaintiffs assert that they received a cooperative agreement providing a
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“period of performance” from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020. ECF No. 24 at
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18. HHS then altered the period of performance to terminate on June 30, 2018. Id.
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Plaintiffs argue that this alteration ended the TPP awards “prior to the planned end
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of a period of performance,” amounting to a termination. Id. Yet, the NOAs
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specify the time as “project period,” not “period of performance.” See ECF No.
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24-3 at 10.
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Defendants argue that because Plaintiffs could not incur new obligations
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under the TPP Program awards beyond the year for which the funds were
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appropriated, it is clear that the period of performance for those awards was the
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budget period. ECF No. 27 at 27. Defendants also insist that the “loan cross-
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reference” in the regulations for “project period” and “period of performance”
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cannot overcome the substantive definition of “period of performance” in the
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regulations. ECF Nos. 27 at 27; 30 at 14. Defendants state that the cross-reference
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merely corresponds to the “definitions for terms used in this part.” ECF No. 30 at
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14. Defendants emphasize that financial obligations cannot be imposed on the
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government that go beyond a single fiscal year because it would violate the ADA,
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as discussed above. ECF No. 27 at 27.
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Plaintiffs respond that the HHS guidance documents explain how “project
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period” differs from the “budget period.” ECF No. 29 at 15. In the Frequently
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Asked Questions regarding this issue, HHS stated that “[t]he project period is the
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total time for which support of a project has been programmatically approved by
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OAH. For budgetary and reporting purposes, funding is provided in annual
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increments called budget periods.” ECF No. 29 at 15; Frequently Asked Questions
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for OAH 2015 TPP FOAs, https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/2015-
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 16
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general-tpp-faqs.pdf, at 8 (last visited Apr. 17, 2018). HHS further explained that
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“[g]rants will be funded in annual increments (budget periods) and are generally
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approved for a project period of up to five years, although shorter project periods
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may be approved.” ECF No. 29 at 15-16; Frequently Asked Questions. Plaintiffs
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thus conclude that HHS’s own regulations and guidance indicate that the “period
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of performance” is the five-year project period, not the single year budget periods.
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ECF No. 29 at 16.
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The Court considers Plaintiffs’ citation to the D.C. Circuit’s decision in
Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. v. Califano, 574 F.2d 518 (D.C. Cir.
10
1997). See ECF No. 29 at 17. The court in Califano determined that the
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Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s (“HEW”) disapproval, after three
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years of federal support, of annual application for continued funding for migrant
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health care facility constituted a termination. Califano, 574 F.2d at 527. The court
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stated that the grant appeals process was established to afford grantees maximum
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due process and thus the definition of “termination” should be interpreted in “the
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light most favorable to the grantee.” Id. The court also noted that “‘grant
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termination’ is a term of interest to virtually all agencies” and is thus not subject to
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HEW’s special expertise. Id.
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Defendants argue that Califano is not controlling nor applicable. ECF No.
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30 at 17. Defendants emphasize that “the light most favorable to the grantee” is a
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 17
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level of deference that Plaintiffs did not ask for here, as no principle of law would
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so require. Id. Defendants assert that the case here does not involve Plaintiffs’
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authority to charge allowable costs to the existing grant, which was the operative
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standard for termination in Califano. Id. Defendants cite a contrary decision,
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which held that a grantee has no legal entitlement to funds for future years within a
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project period. Id.; Missouri Health & Med. Org., Inc. v. United States, 641 F.2d
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870, 873-74 (Ct. Cl. 1981). A Department Appeals Board explained that after the
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Califano decision, HHS “clarified its regulations to specifically distinguish a
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termination of previously awarded funds from a denial of further funding.” Nw.
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Rural Opportunities, Inc., DAB 324 (1982) (H.H.S. June 30, 1982). The Board
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determined that this clarification precluded it from reviewing the dispute as a
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termination where a grant was approved for on a multi-year basis or “project
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period,” but was then denied for successive “budget periods.”2 Id. at *1.
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Additionally, Defendants emphasize that “in both its regulations and its informal
15
guidance, HHS has maintained the distinction between not issuing a continuation
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award and termination for decades.” ECF No. 30 at 19 n.6.
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Defendants note that the operative regulations in Northwest Rural
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Opportunities was revised in 1994, but the revisions did not suggest HHS was
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adopting Califano’s interpretation. ECF No. 30 at 19 n.6.
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While the Court is not persuaded by the findings in Califano, the Court
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determines that the definition found in 45 C.F.R. § 75.2 expressly clarifies that
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“project period” and “period of performance” are synonymous. The Court is not
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convinced that this regulation is a “loan cross-reference,” but the plain language of
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this regulation explains that these terms hold the same meaning. The statement
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found in the GPS that the projected levels of future support are not guarantees that
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the project will be funded ensures compliance with the ADA, and does not show
8
that the period of performance is merely a budget period. See ECF No. 27-2 at
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156. The start and end date of the period of performance, which must be included
10
in the Federal award, is specified as the five year project period. See 45 C.F.R. §
11
75.2. The parties had a clear intent to create a five-year project3 and ending this
12
13
3
14
period.” ECF No. 27-2 at 11. The GPS did not guarantee funds beyond the current
15
budget period, as it would be a violation of the ADA. Yet, the GPS does state that
16
the “NoAs document approval of a project period that extends beyond the budget
17
period for which funds are provided, indicat[es] the OPDIV’s intention to provide
18
continued financial support.” Id. at 156. The HHS website described its first
19
round of grants in 2010 as having a “five-year funding period.” ECF No. 24-2 at
20
373. The website remarked that the newest round of grants, at issue here,
The FOA outlines the grantee’s expectations “[o]ver the five-year project
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 19
1
understanding constitutes a termination. The parties did not contemplate five, one-
2
year projects, but rather a comprehensive five-year, ever evolving and improving
3
project period. The Court finds that the period of performance is for the entire
4
five-year, non-compete cooperative agreement, not for a single budget period.
5
d. Capable of Review
6
Defendants assert that HHS’s decision to issue future continuing awards is
7
unreviewable as it is “committed to agency discretion” and there is no meaningful
8
9
“anticipates reaching 1.2 million youth in 39 states and the Marshal Islands from
10
FY2015-2019.” Id. at 374. While this document is not binding, the Court finds it
11
instructive to show HHS’s communicated intent regarding the length of the
12
program.
13
Additionally, the Court emphasizes that the NOAs clarify the action type as
14
a “Non-Competing Continuation.” ECF Nos. 24-3 at 23, 54; 24-5 at 27, 42; 24-6
15
at 485, 499, 513, 527, 565, 579, 593, 608. “Each year of the approved project
16
period, grantees are required to submit a noncompeting application … for the
17
upcoming year.” ECF No. 24-6 at 91, 206, 301, 407. Plaintiffs were then
18
guaranteed the ability to apply for funding for each budget period without having
19
to compete for the funds.
20
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 20
1
standard against which to judge the agency’s discretion. ECF No. 27 at 28;
2
Lincoln v. Vigil, 508 U.S. 182, 191 (1993).
3
The APA embodies “a basic presumption of judicial review.” Lincoln, 508
4
U.S. at 190. Yet, § 701(a)(2) precludes judicial review of certain administrative
5
decisions that courts traditionally have regarded as “committed to agency
6
discretion.” Id. at 191. In Lincoln, the Supreme Court found that allocations of
7
funds from a lump-sum appropriation is an administrative decision that is
8
traditionally regarded as committed to agency discretion. Id. at 192. The Supreme
9
Court held that the Indian Health Service’s decision to discontinue an Indian
10
Children’s Program was unreviewable under § 701(a)(2). Id. The Supreme Court
11
determined that the Indian Health Service’s “reallocation of agency resources to
12
assist handicapped Indian children nationwide clearly falls within the Service’s
13
statutory mandate to provide health care to Indian people …. The decision to
14
terminate the Program was committed to the Service’s discretion.” Id.
15
The Supreme Court has emphasized that § 701(a)(2) stakes out “a very
16
narrow exception.” Newman v. Apfel, 223 F.3d 937, 943 (9th Cir. 2000). There
17
are two circumstances in which judicial review is foreclosed under § 701(a)(2). Id.
18
at 943. First, the “rare circumstance[] where the relevant statute is drawn so a
19
court would have no meaningful standard against which to judge the agency’s
20
exercise of discretion,” and thus there “is no law to apply.” Lincoln, 508 U.S. at
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 21
1
191. Second, where the agency action requires “a complicated balancing of a
2
number of factors which are peculiarly within [the agency’s] expertise,” such as
3
“the prioritization of agency resources, likelihood of success in fulfilling the
4
agency’s statutory mandate, and compatibility with ‘the agency’s overall
5
policies.’” Newman, 223 F.3d at 943 (citation omitted).
6
Here, Defendants argue that there is an absence of a meaningful standard for
7
the court to judge HHS’s discretionary decision whether to approve the
8
continuation award or recompete the FY 2018 funds. ECF No. 27 at 29.
9
Defendants insist that neither the TPP Program nor regulations provide any
10
guidance about that decision. Id. Defendants also note that a choice by agencies
11
as to how to spend appropriated TPP Program funds falls within their area of
12
expertise. Id.
13
Plaintiffs assert that review is available where the plaintiff claims that the
14
agency has violated a regulatory requirement. ECF No. 29 at 23. Plaintiffs note
15
that they are not arguing that HHS lacks authority to terminate awards, but that the
16
termination must satisfy one of the three circumstances under which Federal
17
awards may be terminated according to HHS regulations. ECF No. 29 at 23-24; 45
18
C.F.R. § 75.372(a).
19
20
The Court notes that the Defendants’ cited case, Alan Guttmacher Inst. v.
McPherson, 597 F. Supp. 1530 (S.D.N.Y. 1984), is not controlling and
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 22
1
distinguishable. This case concerned the decision of the Agency for International
2
Development to not renew a grant which provided funding for a publication
3
regarding family planning. Alan Guttmacher Inst., 597 F. Supp. at 1530. The
4
court found that review of renewing funding grants were “notoriously unsuitable
5
for judicial review, for they involve the inherently subjective weighing of the large
6
number of varied priorities which combine to dictate the wisest dissemination of an
7
agency’s limited budget.” Id. Yet, the Court agrees with Plaintiffs that this case is
8
inapplicable because there were no regulations in place that provided a clear limit
9
to the agency’s discretion to terminate its grants. See ECF No. 29 at 23 n.22.
10
The Court finds that Defendants other case citations are also distinguishable.
11
See ECF No. 27 at 30 n.6. In Community Action of Laramie County, Inc. v.
12
Bowen, the Tenth Circuit emphasized the difficulty of reviewing discretionary
13
decisions “[w]ithout manageable substantive standards against which to judge
14
HHS’s exercise of discretion, our review would amount to nothing more than an
15
impermissible ad hoc assessment of the fairness of agency action.” 866 F.2d 347,
16
352-54 (10th Cir. 1989). In Apter v. Richardson, the Seventh Circuit found that
17
the medical merits of the National Institutes of Health decisions on training grants
18
may be committed to the unreviewable discretion of the agency, but also held that
19
“[w]here it is alleged that the agency has transgressed a constitutional guarantee or
20
violated an express statutory or procedural directive, otherwise non-reviewable
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 23
1
agency action should be examined to the extent necessary to determine the merits
2
of the allegation.” 510 F.2d 351, 355 (7th Cir. 1975). These cases had no
3
manageable substantive standards by which to judge the agencies’ actions, unlike
4
the situation here, as discussed below.
5
In Kletschka v. Driver, the Second Circuit declined to review decisions by
6
the Veterans Affairs for awarding or refusing to award research grants that were
7
highly technical in nature. 411 F.2d 436, 443 (2nd Cir. 1969). In Grassetti v.
8
Weingberger, the Northern District of California declined to review denial of
9
research grant money for a cancer research program. 408 F. Supp. 142 (N.D. Cal.
10
1976). The court held that “it is probable that the medical merits of agency
11
decisions on research grant applications are committed to the unreviewable
12
discretion of the agency, subject to judicial scrutiny only where it is alleged that
13
the agency has transgressed a constitutional guarantee or violated an express
14
statutory or procedural directive.” Id. at 150. Grassetti is similar to Kletschka
15
because both involve the technical merits of various research grants. Both these
16
cases are then distinguishable because the instant case involves terminating a grant,
17
not deciding the merits of various grant options. The Court also finds that
18
Philadelphia Hous. Auth. v. U.S. Dep’t of Hous. & Urban Dev. is inapplicable
19
because it concerns an agency’s power to refuse to renew a contract, whereas here
20
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 24
1
the issue involves termination of a non-compete, cooperative agreement. 553 F.
2
Supp. 2d 433, 439 (E.D. Pa. 2008).
3
The Court finds that these cases are not controlling nor do they prove
4
Defendants’ argument, as many emphasize that an agency’s decision is reviewable
5
when there is a clear regulatory or statutory standard. Here, there is a meaningful
6
standard against which to judge the agency’s decision, and this is then not a rare
7
circumstance where there is no law to apply. Lincoln, 508 U.S. at 191.
8
Additionally, the agency action is not so complex that it requires a balancing of a
9
number of factors that are peculiar to the agency’s expertise, unlike the technical
10
and medical cases discussed above. The case here involves the simple question
11
whether HHS unlawfully terminated the TPP Program contrary to the applicable
12
termination regulations.
13
Under 45 C.F.R. § 75.372(a), a Federal award may be terminated by the
14
HHS awarding agency: (1) if the awardee “fails to comply with the terms and
15
conditions of the award”; (2) “for cause”; or (3) “with the consent of the non-
16
Federal entity.” 45 C.F.R. § 75.372(a)(1)-(3). The Funding Announcement
17
explains that funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first year “is
18
contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, and
19
adequate stewardship of Federal funds.” ECF No. 27-2 at 39. The GPS states that
20
an OPDIV may decide not to make a non-competing continuation award within the
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 25
1
current competitive segment if: (1) “[a]dequate Federal funds are not available to
2
support the project”; (2) “[a] recipient failed to show satisfactory progress in
3
achieving the objectives of the project”; (3) “[a] recipient failed to meet the terms
4
and conditions of a previous award”; or (4) “[f]or whatever reason, continued
5
funding would not be in the best interests of the Federal government.” Id. at 249.
6
Defendants emphasize the importance of this final factor. See ECF No. 27 at 25.
7
The NOAs make clear the ranking of the policies applicable to the grants, as
8
discussed above. ECF No. 24-5 at 14. The NOAs control over any conflicting
9
language in the GPS. Grant program regulations control over award notices,
10
including the terms and conditions that Defendants argue are applicable,
11
specifically the fourth factor. The regulations relating to HHS’s ability to
12
terminate a program found in 45 C.F.R. § 75.372(a) are then controlling as a
13
federal regulation over the language found in the GPS. These regulations create a
14
meaningful standard of review. Accordingly, the Court considers the merits of
15
Plaintiffs’ APA claims below.
16
17
e. Arbitrary and Capricious, and Contrary to Law
Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), an agency action
18
must be set aside and held unlawful if it is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of
19
discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A). The
20
burden is on Plaintiffs to show any decision or action was arbitrary and capricious.
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 26
1
Kleppe v. Sierra Club, 427 U.S. 390, 412 (1976). Agency action will be upheld if
2
the agency “has considered the relevant factors and articulated a rational
3
connection between the facts found and the choice made.” Baltimore Gas & Elec.
4
Co. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 462 U.S. 87, 105 (1983). An agency’s
5
decision can be upheld only on the basis of the reasoning in that decision. High
6
Sierra Hikers Ass’n v. Blackwell, 390 F.3d 630, 638 (9th Cir. 2004).
7
“The scope of review under the ‘arbitrary and capricious’ standard is
8
narrow and a court is not to substitute its judgment for that of the agency,” but “the
9
agency must examine the relevant data and articulate a satisfactory explanation for
10
its action including a ‘rational connection between the facts found and the choice
11
made.’” Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of U.S., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.,
12
463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983) (quoting Burlington Truck Lines v. United States, 371 U.S.
13
156, 168 (1962)). An agency decision may be reversed under the arbitrary and
14
capricious standard:
15
[I]f the agency has relied on factors that Congress has not intended it
to consider, entirely failed to consider an important aspect of the
problem, offered an explanation for its decision that runs counter to
the evidence before the agency, or is so implausible that it could not
be ascribed to a difference in view or the product of agency expertise.
16
17
18
19
20
Id.
Here, Plaintiffs argue that HHS’s termination of their cooperative
agreements is both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious. ECF No. 24 at 17.
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 27
1
Plaintiffs insist that HHS’s termination is inconsistent with its own regulations, the
2
termination cannot be saved by HHS’s decision to terminate the TPP Program as a
3
whole as it defies clear statutory direction, and the termination is arbitrary and
4
capricious. Id. Defendants assert that HHS did not act arbitrarily and capriciously
5
by exercising its rights under the terms and conditions of the Plaintiffs’ grants.
6
ECF No. 27 at 32. As discussed above, Defendants’ conduct was a termination
7
and is subject to the standards found in 45 C.F.R. § 75.372, and thus the Court will
8
not address Defendants’ arguments relating to the GPS’s statement that the agency
9
can discontinue funding if it is in the best interests of the government. See id.
10
First, Plaintiffs argue that HHS’s actions are inconsistent with its own
11
regulations, meaning that the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously. ECF No.
12
24 at 17; see also Salehpour v. I.N.S., 761 F.2d 1442, 1447 (9th Cir. 1985).
13
Plaintiffs assert that HHS lacked authority to terminate Plaintiffs’ awards because
14
it cannot demonstrate that any Plaintiff “failed to comply with the terms and
15
conditions of the award” or that there was “cause.” ECF No. 24 at 18-19 (quoting
16
45 C.F.R. § 75.374). Plaintiffs also note that they have clearly not consented to the
17
termination and thus, the third clause of the regulation is not at issue. See id. at 19.
18
19
Second, Plaintiffs insist that Congress directed HHS to implement the TPP
Program and that statutory direction was in full effect when HHS shortened
20
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 28
1
Plaintiffs’ period of performance. Id. Plaintiffs argue that until Congress removes
2
its direction, the HHS must continue to implement the TPP Program. Id. at 19-20.
3
Third, Plaintiffs contend that the agency action was arbitrary and capricious
4
because the agency fails to satisfy the requirements found in Motor Vehicle,
5
referenced above. ECF No. 24 at 20; Motor Vehicle, 463 U.S. at 43. Plaintiffs
6
argue that HHS’s various stated rationales for terminating the TPP Program are
7
inconsistent with each other, and inconsistent with language on HHS’s own
8
website praising the TPP Program. ECF No. 24 at 21. Plaintiffs assert that HHS’s
9
various stated rationales fail to take account of all the evidence before it and ignore
10
the facts in favor of the Administration’s political agenda. Id. at 23. Plaintiffs also
11
allege that HHS’s claim that the TPP Program as a whole was ineffective, is
12
contradicted by the demonstrated evidence of the Program’s success and HHS’s
13
own positive statements about the Program. Id. at 24.
14
The Court finds that HHS arbitrarily and capriciously terminated the TPP
15
Program. Plaintiffs have come forth with evidence of the success of the TPP
16
Program and Defendants have failed to rebut Plaintiffs’ arguments. ECF Nos. 24
17
at 13-19; 27 at 31-32; 29 at 10-11. At oral argument Defendants conceded that
18
they are not providing the Court with rebuttal evidence, but merely assert that the
19
decision was in the best interests of the government in accordance with the GPS.
20
Defendants simply state that “HHS’s policy concerns with the current TPP
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 29
1
Program are a matter of public record.” ECF No. 27 at 32 (emphasis added).
2
Defendants thus concede that their concerns with the TPP Program are based on
3
“policy concerns,” not the alleged ineffectiveness of the Program. Defendants also
4
state that HHS can withhold awards “for whatever reason, continued funding
5
would not be in the best interest of the federal government.” Id. at 29; 27-2 at 249.
6
As already discussed above, the GPS supplied “best interest” justification is not
7
controlling when it conflicts with regulations, such as 45 C.F.R. § 75.374.
8
The Court determines that Defendants’ reasoning, “policy concerns” and
9
“whatever reason” are arbitrary and capricious justifications. Defendants have
10
failed to “examine the relevant data and articulate a satisfactory explanation for its
11
action[.]” Motor Vehicle, 463 U.S. at 43. Defendants do not offer a rational
12
connection between the facts and the choice made, but merely articulate policy
13
concerns and their own discretion to terminate the program for whatever reason.
14
This reasoning or lack thereof is arbitrary and capricious. Accordingly, the Court
15
finds that Plaintiffs establish actual success on the merits of their APA claims.
16
2. Due Process Claim
17
Plaintiffs allege that HHS has deprived them of their property interest in the
18
final two years of their TPP Program grants and did so without the procedural
19
protections required under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. ECF
20
No. 24 at 26-27. The Fifth Amendment ensures that no one shall be “deprived of
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 30
1
life, liberty or property without due process of law.” U.S. Const. amend. V.
2
Courts analyze procedural due process claims in two steps. First, the court asks
3
whether there was deprivation of a constitutionally protected liberty or property
4
interest. McQuillion v. Duncan, 306 F.3d 895, 900 (9th Cir. 2002). If the court
5
finds a protected interest, it proceeds to step two to determine if there was a denial
6
of adequate procedural protections. Id.
7
At oral argument, Plaintiffs conceded that if the Court grants the preliminary
8
injunction in regards to the APA claims, then it need not reach the due process
9
claim. Plaintiffs have shown an APA violation and thus have shown a protected
10
property interest and denial of the adequate procedural safeguard of a pre-
11
termination hearing. Yet, the Court need not reach this issue. Accordingly, the
12
Court grants the permanent injunction in regards to the APA claims and does not
13
consider the due process claim.
14
15
B. Irreparable Injury and Remedies at Law
A plaintiff seeking permanent injunctive relief must demonstrate that he or
16
she “has suffered irreparable injury.” Indep. Training, 730 F.3d at 1032.
17
“Irreparable harm is traditionally defined as harm for which there is no adequate
18
legal remedy, such as an award of damages.” Arizona Dream Act Coal. v. Brewer,
19
757 F.3d 1053, 1068 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation omitted). “[I]ntangible injuries, such
20
as damage to recruitment efforts and goodwill, qualify as irreparable harm.” Rent-
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 31
1
A-Center, Inc. v. Canyon Television and Appliance Rental, Inc., 944 F.2d 597, 603
2
(9th Cir. 1991).
3
Here, Plaintiffs insist that they will suffer irreparable harm if HHS is not
4
enjoined from terminating their cooperative agreements and the TPP Program.
5
ECF No. 24 at 30. Plaintiffs cite that courts have found irreparable harm based on
6
an organization’s claims that the challenged action will cause them to “lay off
7
employees, reduce services, … cancel established programs, and lose relationships
8
and goodwill with volunteers and community partners ….” Id.; Doe v. Trump, 288
9
F. Supp. 3d 1045, *7 (W.D. Wash. 2017), reconsideration denied, 284 F. Supp. 3d
10
11
1182 (W.D. Wash. 2018).
Plaintiffs assert that they designed their budgets, programming, staffing, and
12
partnerships with community organizations based on the understanding that HHS
13
would fulfill its obligations. ECF No. 24 at 31. Plaintiffs state that HHS’s
14
termination disrupts Plaintiffs’ abilities to continue operations as planned and
15
threatens their relationships and goodwill with local partners in the communities
16
they serve. Id. Plaintiffs highlight that the early termination requires immediate
17
action to scale down operations, which threatens reductions in staffing and they
18
will then not have the resources necessary to complete their work. Id. Plaintiffs
19
emphasize that HHS’s actions hinder their ability to provide health services in the
20
communities they serve. Id. at 31-32.
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 32
1
Defendants contend that Plaintiffs received notice that their TPP Program
2
grants would not be renewed by early July 2017, but they waited almost seven
3
months to file this suit. ECF No. 27 at 33. Defendants state that Plaintiffs also
4
tarried over six months after filing a set of challenges with HHS in August 2017.
5
Id. at 34. Defendants also emphasize that Plaintiffs waited another month after
6
filing this suit to lodge their request for injunctive relief. Id. Defendants then
7
argue that the eight month delay betrays a “lack of urgency and irreparable harm.”
8
Id.
9
Plaintiffs respond that they moved for an injunction three and half months
10
before the scheduled termination, not on the eve of the termination of their
11
agreements. ECF No. 29 at 30. Plaintiffs emphasize that they were not sitting
12
idly, but immediately sent letters to OAH challenging the termination. Id. The
13
TPP Program also pursued a FOIA action to assess HHS’s motives for terminating
14
the program, and Senators issued inquiries to HHS questioning its approach. Id.
15
Plaintiffs note that FY 2018 funding was under Congressional consideration and
16
debate, and Congress’ failure to approve the fiscal year funding would have a
17
material impact on Plaintiffs’ claims. Id.
18
The Court agrees that delay in seeking an injunction weighs in favor of
19
finding a lack of irreparable harm, but the cases cited by Defendants do not “doom
20
Plaintiffs’ motion.” ECF No. 27 at 34. In Oakland Tribune, Inc. v. Chronicle Pub.
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 33
1
Co., the Ninth Circuit considered a plaintiff’s delay before seeking a preliminary
2
injunction without any explanation as implying a lack of urgency and irreparable
3
harm. 762 F.2d 1374, 1377 (9th Cir. 1985). Yet, the court found this was only one
4
factor among many at the discretion of the trial court. Id. The other cases cited by
5
Defendants also show that delay is only one factor in the overall consideration.
6
See ECF No. 27 at 34; see Garcia v. Google, Inc., 786 F.3d 733 (9th Cir. 2015);
7
see also Int’l Ass’n of Plumbing Mech. Officials v. Int’l Conf. of Bldg. Officials,
8
79 F.3d 1153 (table), 1996 WL 117447 (9th Cir. 1996). The Ninth Circuit has held
9
that “delay is but a single factor to consider in evaluating irreparable injury; courts
10
are loath to withhold relief solely on that ground.” Arc of California v. Douglas,
11
757 F.3d 975, 990 (9th Cir. 2014).
12
The Court finds that Plaintiffs’ delay is not dispositive when this is but one
13
consideration. The Court is not persuaded here that Plaintiffs unnecessarily
14
delayed in filing this action and motion. Plaintiffs show that they promptly
15
challenged the action and then filed this motion over three months before the
16
termination becomes effective. Even if they did unnecessarily delay, Plaintiffs are
17
still able to establish irreparable harm to the youth they serve, their staff, the
18
communities, and Plaintiffs’ reputation within those communities. Plaintiffs would
19
suffer irreparable harm if their five-year cooperative agreements were terminated
20
early when the parties intended these programs to last five years and Plaintiffs
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 34
1
based their programs, budgeting, staffing, and partnerships with communities on
2
this understanding. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have established
3
irreparable harm absent injunctive relief. The Court also determines that remedies
4
available at law, such as monetary damages, are inadequate to compensate for the
5
injury to the youth and communities that Plaintiffs serve.
6
7
C. Balance of Hardships
“In each case, courts must balance the competing claims of injury and must
8
consider the effect on each party of the granting or withholding of the requested
9
relief.” Winters v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 24 (2008) (internal
10
quotation marks and citation omitted). The Court must balance the hardships to
11
the parties should the status quo be preserved against the hardships to the parties
12
should Plaintiffs’ requested relief be granted.
13
Here, Plaintiffs assert that HHS would suffer no harm from an injunction
14
during the pendency of the litigation. ECF No. 24 at 33. Plaintiffs state that an
15
injunction will impose no costs on HHS, but merely maintains the status quo. Id.
16
at 35. Defendants respond that HHS must announce a new funding opportunity to
17
solicit competitive grant applications before the fiscal year ends as required by law.
18
ECF No. 27 at 35. Defendants state that at the same time, Plaintiffs are demanding
19
issuance of new continuing awards by late June. Id. Defendants argue that
20
processing these awards will double the workload of staff responsible for
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 35
1
administering the TPP Program because OAH will, in effect, be administering two
2
versions of the TPP Program. Id. Defendants emphasize that HHS is already
3
defending TPP Program claims in three other jurisdictions and this has created
4
significant uncertainty regarding how TPP Program funds will be awarded in the
5
future. Id.
6
Plaintiffs respond that HHS’s alleged suffering is belied by the fact that
7
HHS knew from the outset that the validity of the terminations were in dispute, and
8
that HHS chose to ignore that dispute. ECF No. 29 at 31. Plaintiffs argue that any
9
administrative burden that HHS now faces due to its prior decision to violate its
10
own regulations are properly attributed to HHS itself, not Plaintiffs. Id.
11
The Court finds that while Defendants may be burdened by the added
12
administrative work, this does not overcome Plaintiffs’ potential injury discussed
13
above. The Court favors that the status quo should be preserved, meaning that
14
Plaintiffs may submit a non-compete application for funding as the parties
15
originally intended. Changing the status quo to allow Defendants to re-open
16
competition for grant applications would put a burden on both parties. Defendants
17
expressed the burden they would suffer from having to announce a new funding
18
opportunity to solicit grant applications and the double workload of staff to
19
administer two versions of the TPP Program. These burdens can be avoided by
20
maintaining the status quo and allowing the TPP Program to submit a non-compete
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 36
1
application for funding. In balancing the hardships of both parties, the Court
2
determines that Plaintiffs’ hardships far outweigh Defendants’ avoidable burdens.
3
4
D. Public Interest
The Court must lastly decide whether “the public interest would not be
5
disserved by a permanent injunction.” Indep. Training, 730 F.3d at 1032. “In
6
exercising their sound discretion, courts of equity should pay particular regard for
7
the public consequences in employing the extraordinary remedy of injunction.”
8
Winters, 555 U.S. at 24 (quoting Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 305,
9
312 (1982)). “The public interest inquiry primarily addresses impact on non-
10
parties rather than parties.” League of Wilderness Defs./Blue Mountains
11
Biodiversity Project v. Connaughton, 752 F.3d 755, 766 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation
12
omitted). Regardless, the Court will not grant an injunction unless the public
13
interests in favor of granting an injunction “outweigh other public interests that cut
14
in favor of not issuing the injunction.” Cottrell, 632 F.3d at 1138 (emphasis in
15
original).
16
Here, Plaintiffs argue that the public interest favors the granting of a
17
preliminary injunction in order to allow their important work performed through
18
the TPP Program to continue. ECF No. 24 at 33. Plaintiffs insist that the public is
19
harmed because the termination prevents potential beneficiaries from benefitting
20
from valuable programs. Id. Plaintiffs state that cutting the TPP Program
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 37
1
midstream means that the public as a whole will be deprived of the benefits of the
2
data generated through the program that sheds light on which teen pregnancy
3
prevention methods are most effective. Id. at 34. Plaintiffs emphasize the non-
4
profit organizations that have confirmed Plaintiffs’ positive impact, and that the
5
termination has been criticized by the medical community, members of Congress,
6
and community advocates. See id. Plaintiffs conclude that particular attention
7
should be given to preserving the status quo, which is that Plaintiffs’ awards
8
extend through 2020. Id. at 35.
9
Defendants contend that Plaintiffs’ request will deprive the public of the
10
opportunity to participate in a competitive grant-making process. ECF No. 27 at
11
36. Defendants argue that injunctive relief would cast significant uncertainty upon
12
HHS and other agencies that use “project periods” to structure grants for projects
13
funded through annual appropriations. Id. Defendants explain that Plaintiffs’
14
theory would confer a vested property interest upon all grantees with multi-year
15
projects, subject only to each grantee’s compliance with the terms of their grants
16
and successive appropriations. Id. This theory would harm the public by
17
mandating ongoing funding of projects even when they no longer advance the
18
government’s best interest. Id. Defendants state that it would also “handcuff”
19
policymakers for adjusting program priorities and making lawful changes to
20
federal programs, allowing prior administrations to “lock in” a particular class of
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 38
1
grantees to grant funding for untold years and impairing political accountability.
2
Id.
3
Plaintiffs respond that the benefits of open competition for participation in
4
federal programs, however desirable, cannot outweigh HHS’s obligation to comply
5
with its own regulations when administering those federal programs. ECF No. 29
6
at 31.
7
The Court determines that the public interest weighs in favor of Plaintiffs, as
8
it would prevent harm to the community, as discussed above, and prevent loss of
9
data regarding the effectiveness of teen pregnancy prevention. The Court is not
10
persuaded by Defendants concern of mandating further funding of projects when
11
they no longer advance the government’s interest. See ECF No. 27 at 36. The
12
Court does not find that if a program no longer advances the government’s interest,
13
it may not be terminated. The Court does not seek to “handcuff policymakers,” but
14
merely finds that Plaintiffs have established that an agency must follow its own
15
regulations in terminating a program. See id. Accordingly, the Court finds the
16
public would not be disserved and grants a final injunction.
17
18
E. Injunction Bond
Plaintiffs request the Court waive any injunction bond under Federal Rule of
19
Civil Procedure 65(c). ECF No. 24 at 36. Plaintiffs argue that the case directly
20
affects the public interest, they would be denied effective review if required to post
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 39
1
bond, the federal government will not incur damages from the injunction, and
2
Plaintiffs’ likelihood of success on the merits tips in favor of requiring no bond.
3
Id. Defendants did not address the issue of an injunctive bond. See ECF No. 27.
Rule 65(c) permits a court to grant preliminary injunctive relief “only if the
4
5
movant gives security in an amount that the court considers proper to pay the costs
6
and damages sustained by any party found to have been wrongfully enjoined or
7
restrained.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c). This Rule “invests the district court with
8
discretion as to the amount of security required, if any.” Johnson v. Couturier, 572
9
F.3d 1067, 1086 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Jorgensen v. Cassiday, 320 F.3d 906,
10
919 (9th Cir. 2003)) (internal quotation marks omitted and emphasis in original).
11
The court “may dispense with the filing of a bond when it concludes there is no
12
realistic likelihood of harm to the defendant from enjoining his or her conduct.”
13
Id.
14
Here, the Court finds that Defendants would not suffer potential damage
15
arising from the operation of the injunction itself. As discussed above, a
16
preliminary injunction merely maintains the status quo and Defendants will not
17
harm the government’s budget if ordered to allow Plaintiffs to submit a non-
18
competitive request for funding, as was originally intended by the five-year
19
cooperative agreements. Any resulting minimal damage of staff workload is not
20
persuasive where this workload was caused by Defendants’ decision to terminate
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 40
1
2
3
the TPP Program. Accordingly, the Court waives the injunction bond.
II.
Motion to Dismiss or Motion for Summary Judgment
Defendants move to dismiss the Complaint under Rule 12(b)(1) or 12(b)(6),
4
or for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56. ECF No. 27 at 37. Plaintiffs
5
contend that the Motion for Summary Judgment is inappropriate as the case has not
6
yet reached this stage and Plaintiffs have not yet engaged in discovery. ECF No.
7
19 at 32.
8
9
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d), if a nonmovant shows that it
cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may defer
10
considering the motion or deny it. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). Here, the Court finds that
11
summary judgment is not appropriate. Plaintiffs have prevailed on their request for
12
a permanent injunction on their APA claim and have represented to the Court that
13
it need not reach their due process claim. The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s
14
establishment clause claim and thus, summary judgment is denied as a moot issue.
15
A. Motion to Dismiss Standard of Review
16
A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1)
17
addresses the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). A Rule
18
12(b)(1) motion may be either facial, where the court’s inquiry is limited to the
19
allegations in the complaint; or factual, where the court may look beyond the
20
complaint to consider extrinsic evidence. Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 41
1
1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004). The burden of proof in a Rule 12(b)(1) motion is on
2
the party asserting jurisdiction. See Sopcak v. N. Mountain Helicopter Serv., 52
3
F.3d 817, 818 (9th Cir. 1995). In ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court must
4
accept all factual allegations in the complaint and construe the pleadings in the
5
light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Sprewell v. Golden State
6
Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001). The court may disregard allegations
7
that are contradicted by matters properly subject to judicial notice or by exhibit.
8
Id. The court may also disregard conclusory allegations and arguments which are
9
not supported by reasonable deductions and inferences. Id.
10
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) provides that a defendant may
11
move to dismiss the complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
12
granted.” Fed. R. of Civ. P. 12(b)(6). To survive dismissal, a plaintiff must allege
13
“sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is
14
plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell
15
Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). This requires the plaintiff to
16
provide “more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the
17
elements.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. When deciding, the court may consider the
18
plaintiff’s allegations and any “materials incorporated into the complaint by
19
reference[.]” Metzler Inv. GMBH v. Corinthian Colleges, Inc., 540 F.3d 1049,
20
1061 (9th Cir. 2008) (citing Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S.
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 42
1
308, 322 (2007)). A plaintiff’s “allegations of material fact are taken as true and
2
construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff[,]” but “conclusory allegations
3
of law and unwarranted inferences are insufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss for
4
failure to state a claim.” In re Stac Elecs. Sec. Litig., 89 F.3d 1399, 1403 (9th Cir.
5
1996) (citation and brackets omitted).
6
B. Counts I, II, and IV
7
Defendants contend that Plaintiffs have no cognizable claims under the APA
8
or the Due Process Clause. ECF No. 27 at 37. As discussed above, the Court has
9
determined that Plaintiffs succeed on the merits of their APA claims. Since there
10
is an APA violation, there is also a due process violation. The APA violation
11
establishes that there was an invalid termination of the protected property interest
12
of a five-year, non-compete program and Defendants did not provide a pre-
13
termination hearing. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have established violations of the
14
APA and Due Process Clause. The Court denies Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
15
regarding these claims.
16
C. Count III: Establishment Clause Claim
17
Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ establishment clause claim. ECF No.
18
27 at 28. Plaintiffs allege HHS violated Plaintiffs’ rights under the Establishment
19
Clause because HHS’s conduct has the primary purpose of promoting, advancing,
20
and endorsing religion. ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 116-18. Plaintiffs assert that HHS’s
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 43
1
conduct excessively entangles the government with religion and impermissibly
2
coerces grantees into adopting Christian viewpoints by withdrawing access to
3
funding for pregnancy prevention programs unless grantees espouse a Christian
4
viewpoint in administering these programs. Id. at ¶ 121.
5
Defendants first contend that Plaintiffs lack standing to assert this claim.
6
ECF No. 27 at 38. Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ claim is not an attack on
7
decisions made regarding their projects’ continued funding, but a challenge to what
8
HHS may later decide to do with the TPP Program. Id. Defendants assert that the
9
claim is not ripe for review because Plaintiffs do not have Article III standing. Id.
10
To satisfy Article III’s standing requirements, the plaintiff must show the
11
follow three elements: (1) the “plaintiff must have suffered an injury in fact—an
12
invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized and
13
(b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical;” (2) there must be a “causal
14
connection between the injury and the conduct complained of—the injury has to be
15
‘fairly traceable’ to the challenged action of the defendant, and not the result of the
16
independent action of some third party not before the court;” and (3) “it must be
17
likely, as opposed to speculative, that the injury will be redressed by a favorable
18
decision.” Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-61 (1992) (internal
19
quotation marks, brackets, and citations omitted).
20
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 44
1
Here, Defendants insist that when Plaintiffs filed suit, the only decision HHS
2
had made with respect to the TPP Program is that it would not make continuation
3
awards to current grantees. ECF No. 27 at 38. Defendants note that HHS has the
4
right to recompete TPP Program funds and Plaintiffs have the right to participate in
5
any such recompete. Id. at 39. Defendants emphasize that HHS has not yet
6
released a funding announcement for a new round of competitive grant
7
applications, much less reviewed applications or approved any new grants. Id.
8
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ speculation about possible future decisions is no
9
basis for standing under Article III. Id.
10
Plaintiffs respond that they satisfy Article III standing. ECF No. 29 at 33.
11
First, Plaintiffs claim they plausibly alleged that HHS’s termination decision will
12
cause them irreparable harm. Id. Second, Plaintiffs insist that that the injury is
13
traceable to the Defendants because Defendants concede that HHS has chosen “not
14
[to] make continuation awards to current grantees,” and that Plaintiffs have an
15
Establishment Clause claim “based solely on HHS’s actual decision not to continue
16
awarding them funds.” Id.; 27 at 39. Third, Plaintiffs state that remedying the
17
violation would likely remedy Plaintiffs’ harms. ECF No. 29 at 33.
18
The Court finds that Plaintiffs do not sufficiently allege a plausible claim for
19
Article III standing. The Court determines that this issue is not ripe for review
20
when there is no evidence of a religious purpose in the text, legislative history, or
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 45
1
implementation of the legislation. HHS has yet to recompete the funds and it is
2
unclear if a future grantee would receive the funding because of its religious
3
viewpoints. There is no evidence of religious entanglement in HHS’s decision to
4
recompete the TPP Program funds when the funds have yet to be recompeted. The
5
Court cannot determine an Establishment Clause violation without speculating on
6
what Defendants may do with the TPP Program in the future.4 Accordingly, the
7
Court dismisses Plaintiff’s Establishment Clause claim without prejudice.
8
ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
9
1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (ECF No. 24) converted to
10
a Permanent Injunction is GRANTED. Defendants are immediately:
11
a. Enjoined to continue Plaintiffs’ cooperative agreements under the
12
TPP Program; and
13
14
15
4
The Court notes that it also may not consider the individual actions or beliefs
16
of Valerie Huber because the Supreme Court has found that “what is relevant is the
17
legislative purpose of the statute, not the possibly religious motives of the
18
legislators who enacted the law.” Board of Education of Westside Community
19
Schools v. Mergens By and Through Mergens, 496 U.S. 226, 249 (1990) (emphasis
20
in original).
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 46
1
b. Enjoined to accept and process, no later than June 30, 2018,
2
Plaintiffs’ non-competing continuing applications for the fourth
3
budget period of Plaintiffs’ cooperative agreements.
4
2. The Court determines that no surety bond pursuant to Federal Rule of
5
6
Civil Procedure 65(c) is required of Plaintiffs.
3. This Permanent Injunction is effective immediately upon filing, which
7
effectuates service upon the parties through the Court’s Electronic Filing
8
System.
9
4. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 27) is GRANTED in part
10
and DENIED in part. Plaintiffs’ Establishment Clause Claim only is
11
DISMISSED without prejudice and with leave to amend.
12
13
14
15
16
5. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 27) is DENIED
as moot.
The District Court Executive is directed to file this Order and thereby
effectuate service upon counsel.
DATED April 24, 2018.
17
18
THOMAS O. RICE
Chief United States District Judge
19
20
ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT INJUNCTION ~ 47
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