Why It Matters

The disability rights community faces an existential budget crisis alongside unprecedented legislative opportunities. Congress approved nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts in 2025, with reductions threatening Home and Community-Based Services essential for independent living. The Kaiser Family Foundation warns that new restrictions on HCBS waivers make it harder for states to fund these critical services.

Simultaneously, bipartisan momentum exists for advancing disability civil rights—the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act targets subminimum wage permits, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act passed the House, and digital accessibility standards gained bipartisan backing.

By the Numbers

The National Disability Rights Network reported $66,466 in third quarter 2025 for in-house lobbying expenditures, continuing a two-decade pattern of federal advocacy. Since 2003, NDRN has filed 85 total disclosures with $1,068,367 in cumulative spending.

NDRN conducts the vast majority of its advocacy through in-house lobbying—78 of its 85 historical disclosures. The organization has selectively engaged external firms at strategic moments: Elmendorf Ryan LLC in 2009 ($50,000 for stimulus appropriations) and Cornerstone Government Affairs Inc. in 2025 ($120,000 focused on FY2026 Protection and Advocacy appropriations).

NDRN has maintained consistent priorities: Budget/Appropriations (77 mentions), Medicare/Medicaid (77 mentions), Housing (76 mentions), Civil Rights (75 mentions), and Education (74 mentions).

The Agenda

NDRN’s advocacy focuses on appropriations, healthcare access, housing, civil rights, education, and transportation accessibility. The organization is defending against Medicaid cuts while advancing bipartisan legislation on employment rights, transplant discrimination, and digital accessibility.

Defensively, NDRN fights proposed cuts to Home and Community-Based Services essential for independent living. Congress approved nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid reductions in 2025, creating an existential threat to disability services.

Offensively, NDRN supports the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, which would eliminate subminimum wage permits. The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act passed the House with bipartisan support. NDRN also backs the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act and the Disability Access to Transportation Act.

Broader Context

The legislative environment presents both threats and opportunities. While Congress approved massive Medicaid cuts affecting disability services, multiple bipartisan disability rights bills are advancing. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warned that legislation would cut assistance and raise costs for people with disabilities.

However, Congress has shown genuine bipartisan support for civil rights legislation addressing subminimum wages, organ transplant discrimination, and digital accessibility standards. This mixed environment requires NDRN to balance aggressive defensive advocacy against Medicaid cuts with strategic offense on civil rights legislation.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively reshaping disability policy, creating both opportunities and threats. The disability community has secured bipartisan wins on employment rights and transplant discrimination, while facing unprecedented budget threats.

The most pressing congressional activity involves aggressive Medicaid reduction. Congress approved nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, with the 2025 budget bill making it harder for states to fund HCBS. The ACLU warns of more than $880 billion in total Medicaid cuts.

Competitive Landscape

NDRN operates within a crowded advocacy ecosystem. AudioEye Inc. spent $90,000 in Q3 2025 on digital accessibility. National Industries for the Blind invested $155,000 in Q2 2025 on AbilityOne Program advocacy. The Amputee Coalition reported $60,000 in the fourth quarter 2024 on veterans’ policy and Medicare/Medicaid access.

This reflects coordinated but differentiated lobbying efforts across the disability community, with NDRN serving as a generalist addressing systemic issues while specialized organizations target niche concerns.

The Bottom Line

NDRN’s $66,466 Q3 2025 lobbying expenditures continue two decades of steady federal advocacy in a sharply divided environment. While bipartisan momentum exists for employment and civil rights legislation, massive proposed Medicaid cuts threaten essential services. Much of NDRN’s work involves defensive lobbying against budget reductions, though legislative victories demonstrate ongoing Capitol Hill receptivity to disability advocacy.

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