Disability Rights, Disability Justice, Civil Rights, and Economic Justice Groups Condemn Trump Administration’s Withdrawal of Proposed Rule Phasing Out Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor quietly published a notice of its intention to withdraw a proposed rule that would expand opportunities for disabled workers.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 15, 2025 – On July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) quietly published a notice in the Federal Register to withdraw a Biden Administration December 2024 proposed rule titled “Employment of Workers With Disabilities Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act,” which would have phased out subminimum wages for disabled workers.
Sixty-six national, state, and local disability rights, disability justice, civil rights, and economic justice organizations condemn the Administration’s withdrawal of this critical proposed rule, which would have improved the economic health of disabled workers and promoted competitive integrated employment—work that allows disabled employees to labor alongside nondisabled employees and earn the same or comparable pay and benefits with opportunities for advancement.
Currently, federal law allows employers to pay disabled workers below the minimum wage. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 is an archaic exception to federal minimum wage requirements that hampers disabled workers’ ability to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment. An estimated 36,089 workers are still paid subminimum wages in the United States. Many of these workers are in segregated settings, and due to 14(c)’s failed charter, fewer than 5 percent of individuals making subminimum wages will transition to competitive integrated employment in their lifetimes despite the potential to do so. More than half of those working in 14(c) workshops are paid $3.50 or less per hour, making it impossible to afford the cost of living and reinforcing forced poverty for disabled workers. Sixteen states have already eliminated subminimum wages for disabled workers.
The withdrawal of the proposed 14(c) rule is a targeted attack on the disability community that follows a disturbing trend, including significant cuts to Medicaid and the destruction of critical agencies like the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSER) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This latest attack, which took place during Disability Pride Month and just days before the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is especially cruel. Despite the potential impact of this withdrawal, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer has yet to make an official announcement. However, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, put out a press release about the withdrawal.
Disabled workers deserve to be paid fairly for their labor—not to be treated like second-class citizens. It is past time to end 14(c) and support competitive integrated employment for disabled workers in their own communities. We call on Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to make good on her commitment to protect all working people by ensuring disabled people can live and thrive in our communities with jobs that pay living wages.
Signed,
American Association of People with Disabilities
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Center for American Progress
Detroit Disability Power
Disability Culture Lab
National Disabled Legal Professionals Association (NDLPA)
New Disabled South
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Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
Adaptabelles
Ainey Volion Consulting
Applied Self-Direction
Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autistic People of Color Fund
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
Beyond Capable
Center for Accessible Technology
Center for Public Representation
Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
CorpGov.net
Disability Rights North Carolina
Disabled Disrupters
Discovering Dyslexia
Equal Justice Society
Equal Rights Advocates
Family Voices NJ
Feminist Majority Foundation
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58
Jobs With Justice
Just Solutions
Lawyers for Good Government
Legal Momentum, the Women's Legal Defense & Education Fund
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Michigan Elder Justice Initiative
Michigan Statewide Independent Living Corporation
Mothering Justice
National Center for Law and Economic Justice
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Employment Law Project
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women's Law Center
Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment
Public Justice
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
South Dakota Parent Connection
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Sustainable Advisors Alliance, LLC
The AdaptaBelles
The Arc Livingston
The Arc Michigan
The Arc of Allegan County
The Color of Autism Foundation
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pennsylvania (ROC PA)
Tzedek DC
U.S. Gender and Disability Justice Alliance
United for Respect
Women Enabled International
Working Families Party
Workplace Fairness
Young Democrats Of America, Disability Caucus
About the American Association of People with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national disability-led and cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for over 60 million Americans with disabilities. We do this by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation through our programs and advocacy.
About the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. We fight for disability rights. We work to make sure autistic people are included in policy-making, so that laws and policies meet our community’s needs. We work to support all forms of self-advocacy and to change the way people think about autism. Our members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.
About the Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country.
About the Disability Culture Lab
Disability Culture Lab is a nonprofit disability media and narrative lab, fiscally sponsored by Proteus Fund. DCL exists to dismantle ableism and celebrate disability communities and culture.
About Detroit Disability Power
Detroit Disability Power builds and leverages the organizing and political power of the disability community to ensure the full inclusion of disabled people in Detroit and beyond.
About the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association
The National Disabled Legal Professionals Association (NDLPA) is a national association of disabled lawyers, judges, policy experts, legislators, academics, and other legal workers, professionals, and organizers. NDPLA was founded in 2022 to organize and unify disabled legal professionals into a force for change, and to advocate for and empower disabled legal professionals. NDLPA strives to promote professional growth and opportunity for disabled attorneys and legal professionals; improve access and inclusion in the profession; and ensure access to justice for all.
About New Disabled South
New Disabled South (NDS) is the first and only regional disability organization in the United States, fighting for liberation, justice, and rights for all disabled people in the South. NDS works to transform how people think about disability; disabled people deserve to thrive in community and with dignity, with no one left behind. NDS achieves policy and narrative change through cross-movement organizing, disability advocacy, accessible education, and original research. New Disabled South holds accountable ableist actors in government, business, media, politics, and everywhere – to ensure we achieve transformative change for disabled people in our lifetimes.