{
  "id": 17219313,
  "title": "Long Covid Disabled Millions of Workers. Then Came Trump 2.0.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/long-covid-disabled-millions-of-workers-then-came-trump-2-0",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-30T11:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/long-covid-ada-accommodations-trump-administration-labor-hhs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the United States, long Covid has become the largest mass disabling event since the Americans with Disabilities Act was established in 1990. The exact number of people affected remains unknown, but it is believed to be in the tens of millions. These individuals continue to work, with some choosing to do so and others being forced to support themselves or their families.\n\nIn 2021, President Joe Biden addressed the issue by announcing that long Covid would be treated as a disability under federal law. This led to the establishment of a dedicated office within the Department of Health and Human Services in 2023. The accommodations provided to those with long Covid allow many, around 80%, to continue working. However, the costs associated with unaccommodated long Covid have been significant, with losses in jobs and hours amounting to over $12 billion in 2022 alone.\n\nThe Trump administration's shift towards a more anti-worker and anti-disability stance has created a challenging environment for long Covid workers. The Department of Labor quietly removed guidance on accommodations in the workplace, and the EEOC has not published guidance on the use of AI in hiring and evaluating employees since 2022. The insurance industry has aligned itself with the new administration, making it easier for workplaces to deny accommodations.\n\nA long Covid survivor, Hillary Benham-Baker, notes that many of her clients are fearful of losing their jobs for requesting accommodations. Similarly, Barbara Comerford, an employment lawyer with a disability herself, has observed that employers are more comfortable undermining benefits. Disability insurance claims have also become more challenging, as the insurance industry seems to favor the current administration.\n\nDespite these challenges, some federal entities continue to uphold the protections for long Covid workers. The Department of Justice's Disability Rights Section, led by a career federal worker, focuses on ADA enforcement. The EEOC is still actively addressing disability discrimination cases. However, the lack of rulings on long Covid cases and the increasing use of AI-powered surveillance tools create an environment of fear and difficulty for those seeking accommodations.",
  "summary": "Covid constitutes the largest mass disabling event in the United States since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 1990. It’s hard to measure the scale: Millions of Americans, maybe tens of millions, live with Long Covid. Many, from farmworkers to white-collar executives, are still in the workforce—some by choice, some paying an unsustainable […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}