DOJ Title II rule at risk
The DOJ’s Web Accessibility Rule faces credible threats of late-stage legal or legislative delays that could weaken or postpone enforcement ahead of the April 2026 deadline — creating fresh uncertainty for colleges prepping compliance. Analysts warn institutions and vendors to expect confusion and procurement hesitancy if the rule is deferred or diluted. (convergeaccessibility.com)
OIRA logged the Department of Justice’s revised Title II web-accessibility rule as an "Interim Final Rule" submission on February 13, 2026. (reginfo.gov) Legal commentators and disability-rights advocates note an IFR can be issued without the typical notice-and-comment period, a step described as unprecedented for an accessibility regulation. (adaquickscan.com) The National Federation of the Blind submitted a formal letter to OIRA on March 5, 2026 opposing any changes to the 2024 Title II web-and-mobile rule. (lflegal.com) The National Association of Counties reported DOJ is exploring a follow-up rulemaking to lower estimated implementation costs, signaling agency re-openings that vendors and procurement officers flagged as material to buying timelines. (naco.org) DOJ enforcement language still identifies higher-education institutions that accept federal funds as covered entities, with the large-entity compliance date set for April 24, 2026 and the small-entity date for April 26, 2027 in agency guidance and legal summaries. (mcguirewoods.com) Procurement-focused guidance released since 2025 increasingly recommends enforceable WCAG clauses, VPATs, independent acceptance testing, and KPIs for vendor contracts to avoid downstream liability and bid disqualification. (siteimprove.com) Litigation activity has been rising: EcomBack reported roughly 2,014 ADA web-accessibility suits in the first half of 2025, and DOJ enforcement actions include settlement agreements with multiple Texas counties over election-site accessibility. (ecomback.com) Congressional remedies remain possible because the Congressional Review Act allows a disapproval resolution during the 60-session-day window after a rule is transmitted to Congress, a route lawmakers could use to seek quick repeal or delay. (congress.gov)
