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By Robert Alexander
Senior Crime & Court Reporter
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Donald Trump's U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit Thursday, September 11, against Uber Technologies Inc, alleging the ride-hailing company violated federal law by discriminating against passengers with disabilities.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Uber of policies and practices that the government says violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Newsweek contacted Uber for comment via email outside of normal office hours on Friday.
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Why It Matters
The lawsuit matters because it strikes at the intersection of civil rights and the gig economy, raising questions about how far the Americans with Disabilities Act extends into app-based services that now dominate daily transportation. For millions of riders with disabilities, Uber's policies can mean the difference between mobility and exclusion.
The case also signals how regulators may hold technology companies accountable for systemic practices that affect vulnerable populations, setting a precedent that could ripple across the broader gig economy.
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What To Know
Allegations in the Complaint
According to the DOJ's filing, Uber discriminated against passengers with disabilities through its policy of charging "wait time" fees to riders who need more than two minutes to board a vehicle.
These fees, which begin accruing once a driver arrives at the pickup location, apply until the ride starts.
The DOJ argues that individuals with disabilities often need additional time to board vehicles, particularly those who use wheelchairs, walkers, or service animals.
"Uber discriminates against passengers with disabilities and potential passengers with disabilities in violation of the ADA," the complaint states, alleging the company has "failed to ensure adequate vehicle boarding time for passengers with disabilities" and has not made "reasonable modifications" to its policies.
The lawsuit cites examples of passengers who were charged or denied service.
One individual, identified as "Passenger A," a quadriplegic woman living in Louisville, Kentucky, reported being charged wait time fees on nearly every ride to rehabilitation appointments.
Another, "Passenger B," a man with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair, alleged he was repeatedly charged fees in New York and Philadelphia, even after initially receiving refunds from Uber's customer service.
Beyond wait time fees, the DOJ complaint also details instances where Uber drivers allegedly refused service to passengers with service animals, canceled rides after learning a passenger was blind, or demeaned riders with disabilities. Several vivid, human-centered examples of Uber riders' experiences are included:
Mary Wilson, Alexandria, Virginia (blind, uses a guide dog): "Because of Uber's discrimination, Ms. Wilson has questioned whether she should stop using a guide dog in the future … Uber's ride denials make Ms. Wilson feel that she is being rejected because of her disability. This causes Ms. Wilson to feel depressed because she has worked hard to adapt to her disability."
Vincent Coleman, Las Vegas, Nevada (neurological condition): "As he got halfway to the end of the driveway, the Uber driver rolled down her window and said that she would not take him because she thought something might happen to him while he was in her car. As the driver started to pull away, Mr. Coleman tried his best to hurry after her, begging her multiple times to stop and not to leave. The driver left anyway."
Legal Context
The ADA, enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination by private entities "primarily engaged in the business of transporting people" whose operations affect commerce. Title III of the statute requires transportation providers to make reasonable modifications to avoid discrimination.
The DOJ is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, monetary damages for affected individuals, and a civil penalty. It also requests that the court order Uber to modify its policies, train staff and drivers on ADA compliance, and stop what the government describes as discriminatory practices.
Uber's Response
Uber has denied the allegations. In a statement, the company said it "disagreed with all of the allegations and was committed to expanding access and improving the experience of riders with disabilities."
The company added that riders who use guide dogs or require other assistance "deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber—full stop. We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials."
Broader Context
The DOJ has previously scrutinized Uber's practices regarding disabled riders.
In 2021, the department filed a similar lawsuit over wait time fees, which was resolved in 2022 with a multi-million-dollar settlement.
As part of that agreement, Uber pledged to waive wait time fees for riders who certify they need more time to board due to a disability and committed to providing refunds for affected passengers.
The current case, United States v. Uber Technologies Inc. (No. 25-07731), broadens those claims by including allegations of outright denials of service, harassment, and discriminatory charges tied to service animals. The complaint highlights what the government describes as a "pattern or practice of discrimination" raising "an issue of general public importance."
What People Are Saying
Jason Ludwig, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, a U.S. veteran, with chronic pain, and a service dog user, from the 2025 DOJ complaint: "As a result, Mr. Ludwig and his wife were forced to seek alternative transportation but, by the time they secured it, they were too late to catch their flight home … The long drive caused Mr. Ludwig's chronic pain to intensify so much that when he finally arrived home he could not walk or stand. He spent most of the following five days in bed and was unable to work."
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division said in the 2021 statement related to Uber's wait time fees: "People with disabilities deserve equal access to all areas of community life, including the private transportation services provided by companies like Uber."
U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, from DOJ Settlement July 18, 2022: "Ensuring equal access to transportation for those with disabilities is an important goal of the ADA. This agreement removes that barrier to equal access for passengers with disabilities and provides a mechanism to compensate those harmed by Uber's past wait time fee policy."
What Happens Next
Uber must formally respond in federal court, either by challenging the case or answering the allegations.
If it proceeds, both sides will exchange evidence in discovery, though a settlement—similar to Uber's 2022 agreement with the DOJ over wait time fees—remains possible. If no deal is reached, the case could go to trial.
Whatever the outcome, the case is likely to shape how disability rights are applied to gig-economy platforms going forward.
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