Washington D.C., May 28, 2025 — The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a lawsuit today to compel the White House to immediately resume providing American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters during broadcasts of their press briefings to make them accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people. Two deaf individuals—Derrick Ford and Matthew Bonn—join NAD in this lawsuit.
This is not the first time the NAD has sued the White House for access to press briefings. In September 2020, the NAD obtained a landmark court ruling ordering the White House to provide interpreters for all coronavirus-related briefings. The lawsuit was resolved when the White House implemented a policy to provide ASL interpreters for all press briefings conducted by the President, Vice President, First Lady, Second Gentleman, or the White House Press Secretary.
Since that settlement, the White House provided ASL interpreters, including Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs), for all public briefings, press conferences, and related events by the President, the Vice President, and the White House Press Secretary. These interpreters were visible on the White House’s official communication channels, including WH.gov/live, Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube. The White House’s press briefings were thus fully accessible for deaf and hard of hearing people. However, this practice abruptly ended in January 2025. The White House has not provided any ASL interpreters for any press briefings since that time, despite the NAD’s repeated requests.
“Deaf and hard of hearing Americans have the right to the same access to White House information as everyone else. Denying them ASL interpreters is a direct violation of that right, and the NAD will continue to fight for their full inclusion in the democratic process” said Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the NAD. “Such information must be provided not only through captioning but also in American Sign Language.”
On behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people nationwide whose primary language is ASL, the NAD and these two deaf individuals demand the White House to resume providing ASL interpreters during all press briefings so that they can have meaningful access to vital information. ASL is a fully developed language with its own grammar and structure, distinct from English. Closed captions that are English based do not provide access to native users of ASL.
The complaint alleges that the White House is in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates meaningful access for people with disabilities to all White House communications, and in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which mandates freedom of exchange of information.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has signed over 130 executive orders and has taken actions that significantly impact the American people. These actions include shutting various offices within the federal government (many of which were responsible for the provision of workplace accommodations that directly impact deaf and hard of hearing federal employees in compliance with various civil rights laws), reducing the federal workforce, and ending various federal programs and services. Without accessible information, these rapid changes leave deaf and hard of hearing people with more questions than answers. When top government officials make important announcements without ASL interpreters, deaf and hard of hearing people cannot meaningfully access this information—including critical information about protecting their families and livelihoods.
This lawsuit seeks to ensure access to the highest levels of government for deaf and hard of hearing people. The White House must restore that access by reinstating ASL interpreters for all its press briefings.
Media Inquiries – please contact NAD’s Chief Operating Officer, Kelby Brick, via email: [email protected]
ASL Translation:
Copy of the Complaint:
2025-05-28-Complaint-White-House-AccessibilityPrevious Articles on nad.org:
January 31, 2025: CEO Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins emailed the White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles urging the White House to reinstate ASL interpretation services for their press briefings. You can read more about that letter here: https://www.nad.org/2025/02/04/nad-ceo-dr-bobbie-beth-scoggins-letter-to-white-house-about-accessibility/
December 16, 2021: NAD previously sued the White House, and settled. You can read more about that lawsuit and the settlement here: https://www.nad.org/2021/12/16/nad-reaches-settlement-with-white-house-for-all-press-briefings-to-be-interpreted-in-asl/