Sen. Ossoff Demands Answers on Trump Administration’s Efforts to Undermine Enforcement of Rights for Disabled Individuals

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is demanding answers on the Trump Administration's efforts to undermine the rights of disabled Georgians.

Sen. Ossoff recently launched an inquiry with U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel's (OLC) recently released a slip opinion that claims states aren't required to provide community-based care for people with disabilities.

The 1999 landmark Supreme Court case, Olmstead v. L.C., affirmed that the unjustified institutionalization of individuals with disabilities qualifies as discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and affirmed that public entities must provide services in the most integrated setting that can be reasonably accommodated and that is appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.

This recent opinion from the DOJ undermines the Olmstead decision and could leave Georgians with disabilities vulnerable as states face the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history.

"I am deeply concerned about recent reports of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) efforts to undermine the scope and enforcement of rights for Americans with disabilities. Over 25 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the rights of people with disabilities to live and receive care in the community rather than be institutionalized," Sen. Ossoff wrote to Attorney General Blanche. "But on June 18, 2026, the Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion that undermines this pivotal civil right. I demand the Department rescind this shameful document."

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgians with disabilities.

This year, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $475,000 in Federal funding to Synergies Work, Inc., a nonprofit based in Atlanta that helps entrepreneurs with disabilities start and grow their own businesses.

In April, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025 to help connect veterans with service dogs who help veterans facing service-related disabilities.

Also in April, Sen. Ossoff backed the bipartisan Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025 to help make specialized reading and other technology, like Braille readers, more accessible by creating a refundable Federal tax credit to help cover the cost.

In April 2025, Sen. Ossoff launched a push to pass the bipartisan Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act, legislation he cosponsored to extend tax benefits for people with disabilities and help them save for future expenses.

Last January, Sens. Ossoff and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) passed into law their bipartisan Think Differently Database Act, which will direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to build a comprehensive website that provides information and resources available to Georgians with disabilities.

Last December, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) requesting more information about their decision to eliminate all special education and speech language evaluators at every DoDEA school, who provide evaluations and support for students with learning differences to ensure they receive tailored instruction in speech, math, and reading.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff's inquiry.

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