Public Comments Due by June 15th
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently working to quietly rollback two regulations that help implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: 10 CFR 1040.73 and 10 CFR 1040.72(c) & (d). These regulations guarantee individuals with disabilities the right to access buildings constructed or modified with federal funding, as well as require existing facilities to have a plan to remove access barriers over time. If this change is implemented, builders would no longer be required to meet established accessibility standards, such as providing elevators, ramps, accessible bathrooms, as well as the placement of accessories, such as changing tables, grab bars, towel dispensers, etc. These changes would represent a significant setback for disability rights and could undermine years of progress toward ensuring access for all.
The implications of this rollback could become permanent if action is not taken by June 15th, 2025. The DOE needs to hear from you, so submit a comment opposing this change today.
What Is Happening?
The DOE plans to repeal the 10 CFR 1040.73 and 10 CFR 1040.72(c) & (d). regulations. These regulations have been in effect since 1980 and mandate that:
- New buildings built with federal funds must be accessible to people with disabilities.
- Renovations or alterations to federally funded buildings must also be made accessible.
- Buildings must follow a federal standard for accessibility called the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).
- Existing facilities must have a plan to remove access barriers over time. Such plans must be made in partnership with the disability community.
The DOE now claims these regulations are “unnecessary” and “burdensome”—even though they simply ensure that federal dollars don’t go toward buildings that disabled people can’t use.
Access is a right, not a burden. And more than that, access benefits everyone, not just individuals with disabilities.
Why It Matters
These regulations enforce basic rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination in any program or activity that receives federal money. Eliminating the regulations weakens those protections.
If these regulations are removed:
- New buildings could be built without following any enforceable accessibility standard—excluding millions of disabled people from the start.
- Renovated spaces might leave out ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, or wider doorways—because there would be no specific regulation requiring them.
- Agencies and organizations receiving federal funds would have less accountability for providing full access to federally funded buildings.
- Disabled people, older adults, veterans, and others could be excluded and left out of public spaces their tax dollars helped build.
Accessibility isn’t optional. It must be the baseline for all federally funded construction.
Why We Must Act Now
This is a “direct final rule”—which means it will automatically go into effect unless enough people submit meaningful public comments opposing it.
Deadline: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Submitting comments can be a powerful way to share our concerns. These comments become part of the public record and can demonstrate significant opposition before the regulation is finalized.
What You Can Do
Submit a public comment telling the Department of Energy:
- Keep accessibility protections in place.
- Do not eliminate 10 CFR 1040.73 or roll back 10 CFR 1040.72(c) & (d).
- Congress and the courts already support these regulations.
- All federally funded buildings must be accessible to people with disabilities—no exceptions.
- Access is a right, not a burden. Access is for everyone.
Need Help Writing Your Comment?
Download our template and personalize it before you submit.
How To Submit Your Comment
You’ll need to submit your comment in two places:
- First Place: DOE-HQ-2025-0015
- Second Place: DOE-HQ-2025-0024
Select the blue “Comment” button at the top of each of these pages to submit. Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions to submit your public comment.
You don’t have to be a policy expert. Just express why accessibility matters to you.
- Say why it’s wrong to use federal dollars to build spaces that leave disabled people and others out.
- Explain why you or your community need accessible buildings.
Once you’ve submitted your own comment, help us spread the word! Encourage a friend to submit their comment, share this on social media, and get involved.
Access is a Right—Not a Burden.
We’ve fought too hard for disability rights to let them be dismantled.
Please submit your comments by June 15th.
