The April 2027 ADA Title II deadline is less settled than it looks. On May 21, 2026, the National Federation of the Blind sued the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services in federal court in Maryland, asking a judge to throw out the one-year extensions both agencies granted in spring 2026.
If NFB wins, the extended dates — April 26, 2027 for state governments and large local governments, May 11, 2027 for larger HHS-funded healthcare providers — could be set aside. As of early November 2026, there is no ruling.
Here is what the case claims, where it stands, and how to plan around the uncertainty.
What the Two Extensions Did
| Rule | Who it covers | Original deadline | Extended deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOJ ADA Title II | State governments; local governments with 50,000+ residents | April 24, 2026 | April 26, 2027 |
| DOJ ADA Title II | Local governments under 50,000; all special districts | April 26, 2027 | April 26, 2028 |
| HHS Section 504 | HHS-funded recipients with 15+ employees | May 11, 2026 | May 11, 2027 |
| HHS Section 504 | HHS-funded recipients with fewer than 15 employees | May 10, 2027 | May 10, 2028 |
Neither rule changed the technical standard. Both still require WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The DOJ extension in detail • The HHS extension in detail
What NFB Is Arguing
• Count I (both agencies): they skipped the notice-and-comment process the law required before changing the rules
• Count II (DOJ): the Title II extension was arbitrary and capricious
• Count III (HHS): the Section 504 extension was arbitrary and capricious
The arbitrary-and-capricious claims center on the argument that the agencies failed to account for the harm that another year of inaccessible government and healthcare websites does to blind people.
The relief requested is a declaration that the interim final rules are unlawful and an order vacating or setting them aside, plus fees. Some early coverage said NFB also asked the court to order the original deadlines enforced; the complaint's prayer for relief asks the court to vacate the rules.
Where the Case Stands
We have seen secondhand reports of specific briefing dates that we could not confirm on the court's docket, so we are not repeating them. We will update this article when the court rules.
How to Plan Around the Uncertainty
• Keep remediation moving. Work you finish in 2026 is protected no matter how the case comes out.
• Prioritize what people use most. Payment portals, permit and benefit applications, patient portals and public meeting materials first.
• Keep dated records. A documented, ongoing program is your best position under any deadline.
• Keep accessibility in procurement. Vendor contracts signed now will still be running in 2027.
• Watch the docket. A ruling could move the dates faster than any new rulemaking.
Know Where You Stand Before the Court Rules
Whatever the court decides, the work is the same. Run a free scan to see your current WCAG 2.1 AA gaps and start a dated record.
Scan Your Website FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is the ADA Title II deadline still April 26, 2027?
Yes, for now. Under the DOJ's April 20, 2026 interim final rule, state governments and local governments with 50,000 or more residents must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 26, 2027, and smaller local governments and special districts by April 26, 2028. The National Federation of the Blind has asked a federal court to vacate that extension; there was no ruling as of early November 2026.
What happens if the National Federation of the Blind wins?
If the court vacates the extensions, the compliance dates in the original 2024 rules could apply again — and for larger public entities that original date, April 24, 2026, has already passed. A court can also shape the timing and scope of its order, so the practical effect of a ruling is uncertain.
Does the NFB lawsuit affect private businesses?
Not directly. The case concerns the DOJ's Title II rule for state and local governments and HHS's Section 504 rule for recipients of HHS funding. Private businesses are sued under ADA Title III, which has no website deadline at all — those lawsuits continue regardless of how this case turns out.
The DOJ and HHS gave public entities and healthcare providers an extra year. A federal lawsuit is now testing whether they were allowed to. Until the court rules, April 26, 2027 is the working deadline for large public entities — and an assumption worth hedging.
The safest plan does not depend on the outcome: keep the work moving, document it, and treat accessibility as a permanent program rather than a deadline sprint.
Sources: Court docket, NFB v. DOJ, No. 1:26-cv-02007 (D. Md.) • DOJ interim final rule, 91 FR 20902 (April 20, 2026) • HHS interim final rule, 91 FR 25496 (May 11, 2026)
Disclaimer: This article describes pending litigation as of November 2026 and is not legal advice. The case may be resolved, appealed or affected by later rulemaking; check the docket for current status.