The Court of Federal Claims and the Trump Administration’s Contract and Grant Terminations: A Primer for Federal Grantees and Contractors
The Trump Administration’s unprecedented terminations of federal contracts and grants have affected organizations seeking options and remedies. Universities, academic research institutions, federal contractors, and state and local governments have been particularly impacted. But seeking judicial redress is not straight-forward; courts considering such challenges have identified jurisdictional problems when seeking relief from a federal district court under the Administrative Procedure Act. Enter the United States Court of Federal Claims. This briefing paper introduces Dorsey clients to the Court of Federal Claims, a specialized and lesser-known federal court that will be increasingly important and relevant as the battle over federal grants and contracts continues through the Second Trump Administration. What is the Court of Federal Claims? The Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”)—in its current form—was created by the Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992. [1] But the COFC’...