DES MOINES, IOWA — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (R) discussed action the state took in the fall of 2024 joining 16 other states in a lawsuit against the Biden Administration.

The lawsuit revolves around removing ‘gender dysphoria’ from the definition of ‘disability’ added to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 prohibits a school from discriminating against students with disabilities.

The attorney general discussed her viewpoint with WHO 13’s Zach Fisher on Today in Iowa Sunday. The interview comes after letters from parents were mailed to her office and Iowans showing up to the office last month asking the attorney general to pull the state from the lawsuit. Education attorneys and parents point to page 37 of the lawsuit where it reads “Section 504 is Unconstitutional”. You can view AG Bird’s response during the interview broken up in two parts above.

Iowa Senate Democrats responded to Bird’s comments, frustrated with her stance.

“Regardless of what Attorney General Bird claims, if granted everything it asks for, this lawsuit could effectively end accommodations for Iowa kids with disabilities…This lawsuit is shameful. Iowa’s participation is shameful. And the attorney general’s attempt to pull the wool over Iowans’ eyes is infuriating.”

State Senator Janet Petersen (D) District 18 from Des Moines

The statement went on to add that the written text clearly states the lawsuit is a request to make the entirety of Section 504 unconstitutional and its provisions unenforceable. Sen. Petersen said that if stripping disabled children of accommodations is not her goal, then Bird should amend the lawsuit or withdraw in protest.

The lawsuit has been paused when the Trump administration took over to review the rule.