New England Biz Law Update: DOJ shelves ADA rulemaking on digital accessibility

By: New England Biz Law Update staff

In a surprising regulatory rollback, the Department of Justice has withdrawn two key rulemaking efforts under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including long-awaited rules on digital accessibility.

The freeze, announced as part of a broader halt on 54 pending rules, leaves businesses and public accommodations with continued uncertainty about how to meet ADA standards online.

Advocates had hoped for clearer definitions around what constitutes a compliant website or kiosk, particularly for visually impaired users. Without formal guidance, lawsuits under ADA Title III are likely to continue on a case-by-case basis.

Rather than waiting for a new rule, companies should:

• Maintain voluntary audits of public-facing websites and digital tools.

• Ensure vendor contracts include accessibility requirements.

• Train teams on how digital design choices impact ADA compliance.

This isn’t the first time DOJ has hesitated to regulate digital accessibility, but for now, companies should be prepared to defend their choices under current case law.