Ruling reinforces equal access to government information for the deaf community
A U.S. federal judge has ordered the White House to immediately restore the use of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters during press briefings involving President Donald Trump or Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The decision, issued by District Judge Amir Ali, follows a lawsuit filed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and two deaf individuals. The court found that excluding ASL interpretation could violate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federal programs.
Legal background and implications of the ruling
Judge Ali noted that denying access to information through live interpretation causes “clear and present harm” to deaf Americans, particularly regarding issues like national security, healthcare, and the economy. The lawsuit also cites the First and Fifth Amendments, arguing that lack of access infringes on free speech and due process rights.
While the order requires ASL interpretation for presidential and press secretary briefings, it does not extend to events held by the vice president, first lady, or second lady. Nor does it currently mandate ASL interpretation on the White House website or social media platforms.
Ali rejected the argument that closed captioning alone constitutes reasonable accommodation, emphasizing that ASL and English are distinct languages with different grammar and vocabulary. The ruling specifies that interpreters must be qualified and clearly visible during broadcasts.
Compliance and future proceedings
The preliminary injunction requires the White House to update the court on its compliance by Friday. The NAD stated that it will continue to seek broader accessibility measures to ensure deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans receive the same timely and direct access to government communications as the rest of the public.
