// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Democracy Forward say to its date? You vote for me.
| Formation | Tax-exempt since June 2017 |
|---|---|
| Tax ID no. | 820995286 a 501(c)4 821007988 a 501(c)3 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
Region served | United States |
President and CEO | Skye Perryman |
| Website | democracyforward |
Democracy Forward is a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. Founded in the wake of the 2016 United States elections, it describes itself as "a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education, and regulatory engagement."[1] Skye Perryman has served as the president and CEO since 2021.[2]
In 2025, the organization filed over 150 lawsuits against the second Trump administration.[3]
History
[edit]Notable examples of the group's work include Canoe Cruisers Association v. United States Coast Guard,[4] VoteVets v. Department of Veterans Affairs,[5] and City of Columbus v. Trump.[6] On June 2, 2023, Democracy Forward launched a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of Arkansas librarians, booksellers, and customers, which challenged parts of the Arkansas Act 372 that aimed to introduce criminal penalties for librarians and booksellers who provided materials deemed "harmful to minors".[7] On December 23, 2024, a federal judge declared those sections unconstitutional.[8][9] On January 27, 2025, the group provided lawyers for a group of Quaker congregations who opposed Donald Trump's rescinding of guidance prohibiting immigration raids in sensitive areas (including places of worship, schools and hospitals) without approval.[10] The group filed lawsuits opposing a number of executive orders signed early in the second Trump administration, including those mostly shuttering USAID,[11] offering a brief window for "deferred resignation" by federal employees,[12][13] and freezing up to $3 trillion in federal spending.[14][15] It also filed suit to restrict actions by Elon Musk's DOGE operation.[16]
After Trump won a second term, he targeted big law firms that provided pro bono representation for appellate level and Supreme Court cases. Firms made deals with Trump to avoid punishment. In August 2025, Democracy Forward launched its own appellate practice of approximately a dozen lawyers.[17]
References
[edit]- ↑ "About Us". Democracy Forward. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026.
- ↑ Montoya, Carol. "2026 Woman Lawyer of the Year: Skye Perryman". Women's Bar Association. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Impact Report". Democracy Forward. November 25, 2025. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026.
This year, we have filed more than 150 lawsuits against the executive branch
- ↑ "Paddlers sue Coast Guard for kicking them off the Potomac when Trump is golfing". The Washington Post.
- ↑ "Lawsuit claims Trump's selection of Wilkie as acting VA secretary was 'unlawful'". Stars & Stripes.
- ↑ "Trump's undermining of Obamacare violates the Constitution, new lawsuit charges". NBC News.
- ↑ O'Connell-Domenech, Alejandra (June 2, 2023). "Arkansas librarians, booksellers file lawsuit against latest book ban law". The Hill. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ↑ Hale-Shelton, Debra (December 23, 2024). "Arkansas book-censorship law ruled unconstitutional". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ↑ Olivares, José (December 24, 2024). "Part of Arkansas book ban law is unconstitutional, federal judge rules". The Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Strickler, Laura; Lee, Carol E. (January 27, 2025). "Quaker groups file suit over the end of policy restricting ICE arrests in houses of worship". NBC News. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Breaking: Federal Judge Pauses Parts of USAID Shutdown in Response to Lawsuit". Democracy Forward. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ Schwartz, Mattathias; Savage, Charlie (February 5, 2025). "A Legal Counteroffensive to Beat Back Trump's Government Purges". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Breaking News: Judge Extends Deadline For Trump's Federal Worker "Fork Directive"". Democracy Forward. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ Schwartz, Mattathias; Savage, Charlie (February 5, 2025). "A Legal Counteroffensive to Beat Back Trump's Government Purges". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ Schwartz, Mattathias (February 9, 2025). "Federal Courts Are the Frontline for Those Opposing Trump Executive Orders". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ "The Legal Challenges to Elon Musk's DOGE, Explained". Democracy Docket. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ↑ Lee, Ella (September 10, 2025). "Legal group Democracy Forward battles Trump's agenda". The Hill. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
External links
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