The Trump administration is currently involved in a legal dispute regarding the requirement for real-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation during White House press briefings. The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) initiated this lawsuit, claiming that stopping the provision of ASL interpretation—previously utilized during the Biden administration—has resulted in the denial of meaningful access to crucial communications for hundreds of thousands of deaf Americans. The lawsuit highlights the importance of providing equal access to the presidency’s communications on significant national and international issues.
The Justice Department's attorneys contend that mandating ASL interpretation would significantly intrude on President Donald Trump's ability to control his public image. The government has not specified how such requirements would impede Trump’s portrayal but points to an ongoing trend of rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures since he returned to office. The NAD has previously attempted to seek ASL interpretation during Trump's first term, particularly concerning briefings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a court filing from June, Justice Department attorneys argued against the request for a preliminary injunction by stating that the provision of ASL interpretation at news conferences would compromise the President's prerogative to shape his Administration's messaging. Furthermore, they suggested that the hard of hearing or Deaf community already has alternative means to access presidential statements—such as online transcripts and closed captioning—and raised concerns about the logistics of arranging ASL services for spontaneous press questions outside of formal briefings.
Despite the government's objections, a federal judge recently ruled in favor of the NAD, requiring the White House to provide ASL interpretation for Trump’s remarks in real time. The White House has since appealed this ruling and has begun offering ASL services at select events, although disagreements remain over the extent of the services required.
Additionally, this legal battle unfolds in a broader context of the Trump administration’s focus on dismantling DEI programs within the federal government. Notably, in his first week back in office, Trump signed an executive order to halt such initiatives across government operations. In a move reflecting this policy reversal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that DEI policies were "incompatible" with the Pentagon’s mission.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also joined in the administration's push against DEI, recently directing a return to the traditional Times New Roman font for diplomatic correspondence, arguing that the prior use of Calibri stemmed from misguided DEI initiatives implemented by the Biden administration.
It is worth noting that Washington, D.C., is home to Gallaudet University, a leading institution for the deaf and hard of hearing, potentially providing a substantial pool of trained ASL interpreters for the White House to engage. Local government officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, have integrated ASL interpretation into their public appearances, utilizing multiple interpreters to ensure accessibility.
Tensions persist regarding the ongoing interpretation services provided by the White House, as the dispute continues to unfold in a legal and political landscape marked by diverging perspectives on access, representation, and the ramifications of administrative image control.
