Governor Hochul Sends Letter Urging the Trump Administration Not to Retreat From Federal Disability Law

Governor Kathy Hochul today led a group of 18 governors who sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche calling on him to continue the federal government's longstanding support for community-based care and the rights of people with disabilities to live with dignity in their own communities. The letter is in response to recent actions by the Trump Administration that seek to undermine integration protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

"New York will never stop standing up for fundamental rights, and that includes disability rights," Governor Hochul said. "For decades, New York has worked to ensure that people with disabilities can thrive in their communities. The federal government must reverse their needlessly cruel and unjust decision to withdraw their longstanding support from Olmstead enforcement and the community-based care that New Yorkers rely on."

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said, "Reversing the clock on long-held rights for people with disabilities is absolutely the wrong thing for this administration to be prioritizing. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that people with disabilities should not be unnecessarily segregated in institutions when they can appropriately receive services in their communities. In Connecticut, we will continue to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to receive the services and support they need without being forced into institutional care."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said, "For decades, Olmstead has ensured people with disabilities can live, work, and thrive in their communities, but the Trump administration's decision to undermine this landmark decision sows unnecessary fear and confusion, threatening the independence and freedom of Marylanders with disabilities. In the face of federal attacks on the civil rights of people with disabilities, our administration stands with the community, their families, and advocates as we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the ADA and the protections guaranteed by Olmstead."

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, "Every Michigander deserves to live with dignity, no matter their background. That's why it's more important than ever to reinforce our longstanding commitment to the Olmstead decision, which has helped Michiganders with disabilities live and thrive in their communities for decades. I'm proud to join 17 other states in urging the federal government to reverse their rollback of critical protections. Let's keep working together to help more people 'make it' in Michigan."

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said, "Oregon is a place that believes in supporting all people to thrive. President Trump's threat to established guidance and practice puts Oregon's and the nation's approach to empowering people with disabilities in jeopardy. Oregon will continue to follow the ADA and the Olmstead decision."

Governor Hochul led the group of 18 governors from across the nation in sending a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The full text of the letter is included below:

Dear Attorney General Blanche:

For nearly four decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has embodied a fundamental national commitment that disability should not be a basis for exclusion or diminished opportunity. States have worked with local and federal government partners since 1990 to implement both the letter and spirit of this much-celebrated, bipartisan law. On June 18, 2026, the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion that questions the longstanding legal framework surrounding the rights of Americans with disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and full community participation. On July 20, 2026, the DOJ declared that it will not rely on its own longstanding Olmstead guidance, issued June 22, 2011.

As Governors, we are deeply concerned by the federal government's retreat from its longstanding role in protecting the right to community integration and that such actions signal changes to programs serving individuals with disabilities.

For more than 25 years, the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. has built on the commitment of the ADA and reinforced the principle that people with disabilities should have the opportunity to live, work, receive services, and participate in their communities rather than being unnecessarily segregated in institutional settings. This is a principle Americans are proud of and is a Northstar internationally for people with disabilities.

This principle has changed lives and transformed this country. Red and blue states have spent decades investing in home and community-based services, developing supportive housing, expanding access to education and employment opportunities, and redesigning and strengthening community based services. These efforts reflect not only our progress under federal civil rights law, but our shared conviction that people with disabilities belong in their communities, whenever possible.

Recent actions have already created significant uncertainty for states and for the workforce of dedicated individuals who support people with disabilities throughout the country. More importantly, people with disabilities and their families are terrified about moving backward - or worse, becoming institutionalized against their will - after decades of advocacy. We simply cannot risk reversing the progress this country has made in ensuring Americans with disabilities have meaningful choices about where and how they live their lives.

We strongly oppose any federal actions that would weaken protections against unnecessary segregation or diminish the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated settings appropriate to meet their needs, consistent with established Olmstead precedent. Community integration is not an abstract legal concept. It means having a home, being able to work, attend school, shop, worship, build relationships, and participate in an ordinary civic life.

This is not a partisan issue. The ADA was enacted with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. The continued movement toward community-based services has progressed under Republican and Democratic administrations and in states led by Governors of both parties. States may differ in how we administer these services but we stand united around the basic principle that Americans with disabilities are full members of our communities and should not be forced into segregation to receive the services and support they need.

We stand ready to work with the Administration and Congress to strengthen community-based systems while preserving individual choice. We must ensure that our nation continues moving toward greater independence, inclusion, and opportunity for all Americans with disabilities. We urge you not to turn back the clock on generations of progress.

Sincerely,

The Governors of the Undersigned States and Territories

Governor Kathy Hochul, New York

CC:

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services