Trump administration rolls back federal integration rule for people with disabilities
A federal judge removed the integration language from Section 504 regulations after the Justice Department stopped defending the rule, signaling a shift in the Trump administration’s disability policy.
In a recent ruling, a federal judge eliminated the integration requirement from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act after the Justice Department declined to defend the regulation in a case filed by multiple states. The move marks the most concrete step yet by the Trump administration to reverse a half-century policy that favored community living over institutional care. Disability advocates warn the removal could weaken rights and enable states to reduce Medicaid spending on community services.
The decision leaves integration safeguards in the ADA and case law untouched, but enforcement may now rely on private litigation and state action. Organizations such as the Center for Disability Rights and the Bazelon Center are lobbying for federal legislation and encouraging states like Delaware to codify the stripped-out rules. The shift occurs amid broader federal pressure on states to curb Medicaid costs, raising concerns about the future of community-based support for disabled people.
Why it matters
The rollback could limit community living options for disabled Americans and shift responsibility to states and courts.
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