The Trump administration is challenging a lawsuit that seeks to require real-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for White House events, arguing that such a mandate “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public.” The case focuses on accessibility for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, following a lawsuit filed by the National Association for the Deaf in May. The group contends that ending ASL interpretation, regularly provided during the Biden administration, denies hundreds of thousands of Americans meaningful access to real-time communications on key national and international issues.
In court filings, Justice Department attorneys maintained that providing sign language interpreters could interfere with the president’s ability to shape his administration’s messaging. They also pointed to alternative options for accessing statements, including online transcripts and closed captioning, and raised logistical concerns about providing interpretation during spontaneous press interactions. The administration questioned whether similar standards apply to other branches of government.
Despite these arguments, a federal judge last month ordered the White House to provide ASL interpretation for President Trump and Press Secretary Leavitt in real time. The ruling is currently being appealed, and the extent of services required remains contested. Advocates note that Washington, D.C., with institutions like Gallaudet University, has a substantial pool of trained ASL interpreters available.
The dispute over interpretation is part of a broader pattern in the Trump administration of rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In his first week back in office, Trump signed an executive order halting DEI programs across the federal government. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive labeling Pentagon DEI policies “incompatible” with the department’s mission, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reverted diplomatic correspondence to the traditional Times New Roman font, citing the previous administration’s use of Calibri as stemming from misguided DEI initiatives.
