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Congressman Pat Ryan and other lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to enforce protections for disabled air travelers. A rule established in 2024 requires airlines to reimburse wheelchair users if their mobility aids are damaged during flights. Congressman Ryan highlighted that one in 100 wheelchair users faces this issue while flying.
Under the previous administration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg implemented these protections, which mandated airlines to compensate passengers for damaged wheelchairs and improve accessibility. However, the current Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) would not enforce these provisions after five major airlines filed a lawsuit challenging the rule.
Congressman Ryan criticized the decision, calling it a betrayal of disabled Americans, including veterans. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that passengers with disabilities can travel safely and with dignity.
The 2024 rule, aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization law, includes measures to promptly return checked wheelchairs in their original condition, notify passengers of mishandled wheelchairs, and provide loaner chairs and reimbursements for transportation costs due to delays. Despite these standards, the administration plans to delay enforcement, reevaluating key provisions.
Ryan and his colleagues, including Representatives Greg Stanton, Rick Larsen, and others, are demanding that the DOT enforce the rule without delay to protect the rights of over 5.5 million Americans who rely on mobility devices.