Federal Government Scales Back Disability Protections in Settlement with States

The federal government will remove provisions requiring people with disabilities to be served in the community from a 2024 update to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This agreement, approved by U.S. District Judge James W. Hendrix, was reached with five states (Texas, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, and Montana) and marks a significant shift in federal policy regarding the rights of people with disabilities, drawing criticism from advocates who argue it could lead to unnecessary institutionalization.