Federal judge orders removal of community-integration language from key disability rule
A Texas federal judge ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services must strip all references to community integration from a longstanding disability regulation.
In a Texas courtroom, a federal judge ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to delete every mention of community integration from a landmark disability regulation, reversing decades of policy that favored community-based services over institutional care. The move comes weeks after the Justice Department declared it would no longer enforce such community-integration requirements. The case, Texas vs. Kennedy, originated in 2024 when 17 states sued the Biden administration over its addition of gender dysphoria to the list of protected disabilities under section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.
Although the ruling eliminates the specific language, it leaves other disability safeguards, such as those in the Americans with Disabilities Act, untouched. Disability advocates had feared the lawsuit could erode additional protections, a concern now partially realized. The decision signals a shift in federal disability policy and may influence future litigation and regulatory approaches.
Why it matters
The ruling could change how federal disability services are delivered, affecting millions who rely on community-based support.
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