In January 2025, the Trump administration ended a longstanding practice of providing American Sign Language interpreters at White House press briefings, a decision that drew immediate legal challenges from advocacy groups. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and two of its members sued President Donald Trump, White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, arguing that the move violated federal disability rights laws and constitutional protections.
The plaintiffs claimed the administration’s action breached the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federal programs. They also alleged violations of the First Amendment, arguing that the lack of interpretation deprived deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals of their right to receive government information. The Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause was cited as well, with the plaintiffs contending that the policy treated them differently without justification.
Court orders partial restoration of ASL services
On November 4, 2025, Judge Ali granted plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction in part, ordering the administration to provide a simultaneous, publicly accessible ASL feed for all White House press briefings conducted by the president or press secretary. The court ruled that the administration’s decision likely violated the Rehabilitation Act by excluding people with disabilities from participating in federal programming.
The injunction did not extend to briefings by the vice president, first lady, or second lady, nor did it require interpretation for videos posted on White House social media. The administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit, Case No. 25-5402, on November 13, 2025.
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Legal battles over targeted executive orders
The administration’s decision to end ASL interpretation was one of several executive actions that faced legal challenges in 2025. In 2025, President Trump issued a series of executive orders targeting prominent law firms, including Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale, accusing them of undermining democracy and engaging in practices contrary to the administration’s policies.
The orders directed federal agencies to terminate contracts with the firms, suspend employees’ security clearances, and limit their access to federal buildings. Perkins Coie filed suit, arguing that the order violated constitutional protections for free speech, due process, and equal protection.
Perkins Coie was granted a temporary restraining order blocking key provisions of the executive order. The administration appealed the decision.
These executive orders raised broader concerns about the limits of presidential authority. While courts have historically deferred to the executive branch on national security matters, the targeted nature of the orders—directed at specific firms rather than broad policy changes—drew scrutiny.
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Consolidation and appeals in law firm cases
By February 2026, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals had consolidated appeals from law firms challenging the executive orders.
The consolidation reflected the overlapping legal issues in the cases, including whether the executive orders violated the First Amendment by targeting firms for their legal representation of clients.
Accessibility case highlights broader civil rights concerns
The lawsuit over ASL interpretation at White House briefings highlighted the administration’s approach to disability rights. While the court’s preliminary injunction restored some services, the case remained unresolved on appeal, leaving the long-term status of accessibility measures in question.
The legal challenges to the administration’s actions revealed a pattern of executive orders and policies that faced immediate pushback from courts. In many instances, judges ruled that the administration had overstepped its authority, particularly when actions appeared to target specific groups or individuals. The outcomes of these cases could set precedents for how future administrations wield executive power, especially in areas touching on civil rights and constitutional protections, including the right to engagement rings and other consumer products.
