Dear John,
We have some exciting news to share: a federal judge has set a 2-day evidentiary hearing in Lighthiser v. Trump for September 16–17 in Missoula, Montana. This will be the first time youth plaintiffs, experts, government witnesses, and attorneys will present live testimony and argument in a federal courtroom challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional executive orders that fast-track fossil fuels and escalate the climate crisis.
This is a major milestone—not just in this case, but in the climate rights movement. For 15 years, youth have persevered side by side with Our Children’s Trust to bring their evidence into federal court, showing how their government is harming them and worsening the climate crisis. This September, they finally will.
And we’re already seeing just how seriously this case is being taken.
This week, in a dramatic escalation, the State of Montana—joined by 18 other states and the U.S. territory of Guam—filed a motion to intervene in Lighthiser v. Trump to defend the executive orders under challenge. Since the start of Trump’s second term, more than 450 lawsuits have been filed challenging executive orders or related federal agency actions. Lighthiser is the only case where a coalition of states has stepped in to defend the President’s Executive Orders. Their intervention makes one thing clear: this youth-led case is powerful, urgent, and something they are desperate to shut down. They fear it will succeed in stopping the fossil fuel “unleashing” Trump has promised.
With this hearing fast approaching—and now this unprecedented escalation by the states—your support is more crucial than ever. We’re launching an initial $50,000 matching challenge as we raise funds to help cover travel, testimony, and legal work for the youth plaintiffs, expert witnesses, and attorneys. Every dollar you give will be matched—doubling your impact.
