Attorney General Todd Rokita announced on May 4 the voluntary dismissal of Indiana’s claims in a multistate lawsuit that challenged the Biden Administration’s expansion of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The issue centered on a rule from 2024 that redefined “disability” under Section 504 to include gender dysphoria. Rokita said this change could have diverted federal resources away from people with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. The Trump Administration reversed this policy, which led to Indiana dropping its claims in Texas v. Kennedy.
Rokita said: “Section 504 exists to protect Americans with real disabilities — not to advance a political agenda. As the father of a child with Angelman Syndrome, I will always fight to strengthen protections and resources for Hoosiers with disabilities and their families. Our goal in this lawsuit was to remove President Biden’s ridiculous addition of gender dysphoria as a disability, which risked jeopardizing services for those who truly need them most. While we remain concerned about federal overreach into traditional state matters, President Trump’s decisive action has resolved the gender dysphoria issue. With that core victory secured, we have dismissed our claims. My office will continue closely monitoring any future federal actions that threaten proper support for individuals with disabilities.”
Tom Crishon, Chief Legal Officer of The Arc of Indiana, also commented: “We are grateful to Attorney General Rokita and his staff for the extensive time and careful attention they devoted to hearing our concerns over the past several months on this issue. Their openness to listening thoughtfully to self-advocates, families, and the broader disability community showed a genuine commitment to understanding every perspective before making this final decision. After our conversations, we strongly believe the approach his office took in evaluating this lawsuit reflects a thoughtful and deliberate process — one that best protects the rights of all involved while faithfully upholding the core principles of Section 504.”
The notice announcing voluntary dismissal is available online.
Observers say further developments may arise if new federal actions impact disability protections.
