Biden acknowledges Equal Rights Amendment ratification but delays publication decision

President Joe Biden acknowledged that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been ratified by 38 states, meeting constitutional requirements to become the 28th Amendment. However, he did not instruct the U.S. archivist to publish it, citing concerns over potential legal challenges. Previously, the Biden administration argued that Congress needed to authorize the publication due to an expired time limit from 1972. The Constitution does not specify such limits, and the 27th Amendment was ratified over 200 years after its proposal. Democratic leaders have hesitated to publish the ERA, fearing a conservative Supreme Court challenge. If upheld, the ERA could strengthen women's rights and protections against gender discrimination. A rejection could raise questions about the court's integrity and prompt calls for judicial reforms.