Oct 11, 2025
The Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Justice has filed a major lawsuit against Uber, accusing the ride-hailing giant of systematically discriminating against passengers with disabilities. According to the TIME report, the federal government alleges that Uber’s policies and practices violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to properly accommodate riders who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, service animals, and other mobility or medical supports. The lawsuit asserts that Uber routinely denied rides, canceled trips, or required passengers with disabilities to pay additional fees because of physical conditions that made boarding slower or required special assistance.
Federal prosecutors highlight that these issues were not isolated incidents. The complaint describes a pattern of riders experiencing long delays, drivers refusing to pick up wheelchair users, and passengers with service animals being turned away. The Department of Justice argues that Uber did not enforce ADA-compliant standards among its drivers many of whom allegedly canceled rides when they saw that the passenger had a disability nor did the company take adequate steps to prevent discriminatory behavior on its platform.
The government’s case emphasizes that under the ADA, ride-share companies like Uber must make reasonable modifications to their procedures to ensure equal service. The lawsuit claims Uber instead imposed unfair charges on disabled riders, such as “wait time” fees, even when the passenger needed additional time to board because of their disability. The DOJ states that such fees amount to penalizing people for the very impairments the ADA is designed to protect.
Uber has denied wrongdoing, arguing that it has policies against discrimination and offers specialized services such as Uber WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle). However, the DOJ maintains that these programs are inadequate or inconsistently available. Advocates note that many cities still lack sufficient accessible vehicles, leaving disabled riders with unreliable transportation options.
The lawsuit marks one of the most significant ADA enforcement actions brought against a major tech platform, signaling growing federal scrutiny of how companies treat riders with disabilities. As the case proceeds, it could set a pivotal precedent for accessibility in the rideshare industry and beyond affirming that digital platforms offering public-facing services must ensure they comply fully with federal disability-rights laws.
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