Olivares v. Transportation Security Administration

The TSA (defendant) denied Olivares's (plaintiff's) application to attend flight school after a background check revealed a drug-trafficking conviction, alleged firearms trafficking, and continued U.S. residence despite deportation, but its denial email merely stated it "is unable to determine that you do not pose a threat to aviation or national security" without further explanation. Olivares sued under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for failure to state grounds for denial, and the TSA subsequently filed a court declaration detailing the specific contemporaneous grounds, including the background-check findings, that had actually informed its decision.