DOJ delays web-accessibility deadlines

Why it matters

The Justice Department pushed back federal web-accessibility deadlines for state and local governments by a year, days before the first deadline was set to hit. (federalregister.gov) Under the April 20 interim final rule, public entities serving 50,000 or more people now have until April 26, 2027, instead of April 24, 2026. Smaller public entities now have until April 26, 2028, instead of April 24, 2027. (federalregister.gov) The underlying standard did not change. The Department of Justice still requires covered websites and mobile apps to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, 2.1 Level AA, the technical benchmark it adopted in its 2024 Title II rule. (ada.gov) That rule covers the digital front doors of government: school websites, transit apps, tax portals, permit systems, voter information pages, and other online services run directly or through contractors. The Justice Department said in 2024 that state and local governments increasingly deliver core services through those tools. (justice.gov; ada.gov) The delay does not move a separate deadline from the Department of Health and Human Services. The American Hospital Association said April 22 that the Justice Department action does not change compliance dates under Health and Human Services’ Section 504 disability rule. (aha.org) For hospitals, clinics, insurers, Medicaid contractors, and other organizations that receive Health and Human Services funding, the first digital-accessibility deadline still arrives on May 11, 2026, if they have 15 or more employees. Recipients with fewer than 15 employees have until May 10, 2027. (ecfr.gov; hhs.gov) Health and Human Services adopted the same WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard for web content and mobile apps in its 2024 Section 504 rule. The rule took effect July 8, 2024, and applies to programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance from the agency. (hhs.gov; ecfr.gov) The result is a split calendar. A city hospital system may get more time for services covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act’s Title II rule, while still facing the May 11, 2026, deadline for services covered by Health and Human Services funding rules. (aha.org; jacksonlewis.com) The Justice Department’s move changes the clock, not the obligation. State and local governments still have to make the same websites and apps usable for people who rely on screen readers, captions, keyboard navigation, and other accessibility features. (ada.gov; federalregister.gov)

Key numbers

• The American Hospital Association noted that HHS Section 504 web accessibility deadlines remain unchanged, with HHS's May 2026 deadline still in effect.
• (federalregister.gov) Under the April 20 interim final rule, public entities serving 50,000 or more people now have until April 26, 2027, instead of April 24, 2026.
• Smaller public entities now have until April 26, 2028, instead of April 24, 2027.
• The Department of Justice still requires covered websites and mobile apps to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, 2.1 Level AA, the technical benchmark it adopted in its 2024 Title II rule.

What happens next

• The Justice Department pushed back federal web-accessibility deadlines for state and local governments by a year, days before the first deadline was set to hit.
• (aha.org) For hospitals, clinics, insurers, Medicaid contractors, and other organizations that receive Health and Human Services funding, the first digital-accessibility deadline still arrives on May 11, 2026, if they have 15 or more employees.
• Recipients with fewer than 15 employees have until May 10, 2027.

Sources

• aha.org
• jacksonlewis.com
• federalregister.gov
• ada.gov
• justice.gov
• aha.org
• ecfr.gov
• hhs.gov
• jacksonlewis.com

Quick answers