Governors from 18 states have asked the U.S. Justice Department to drop efforts that could weaken the right of people with disabilities to get services in the community. Disability Scoop reported the letter on Sept. 15, 2026. It was organized by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and addressed to Attorney General Todd W. Blanche.
The June memo
The letter responds to a June memo from the department's Office of Legal Counsel. That memo questioned long-standing readings of Olmstead v. L.C., the 1999 Supreme Court decision that led states to move people from institutions into community settings.
Who signed
Besides New York, the signers are the governors of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin. The governors called the issue nonpartisan. "Community integration is not an abstract legal concept," they wrote.
Disability advocates, including the Bazelon Center, stressed that the law itself has not changed, since a DOJ memo is not law. The Justice Department did not respond to Disability Scoop's request for comment.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
Olmstead is part of the legal foundation for community-based services, including group homes, supported living, day and employment supports, and the DSP jobs that come with them. Nothing changes for services today. Still, federal signals like this can shape state decisions on waivers, institutional care and enforcement, so providers in every state should keep an eye on them.