Texas school district wins FLSA case over lactation accommodations

Court finds officer had adequate access to private spaces to express milk, termination unrelated to complaint

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A Texas federal district court has granted summary judgment to the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District in a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case brought by a female school police officer. The officer alleged the district failed to provide adequate lactation spaces and retaliated against her for complaining about the accommodations, but the court found the officer's own testimony showed she had access to private spaces to express milk, and her termination eight months later was based on legitimate performance concerns, not retaliation.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges that working mothers can face in accessing adequate lactation spaces, as required under the FLSA. The ruling suggests courts may side with employers if they can demonstrate they made reasonable efforts to provide private spaces, even if the employee is not fully satisfied with the accommodations.

The details

The female school police officer alleged the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District violated the FLSA by failing to provide adequate lactation spaces and retaliating against her for complaining about the accommodations. However, the court found the officer's own testimony showed she had access to several private spaces to express milk, including a nurse's office, a conference room, and her patrol vehicle. The court also determined the officer's termination eight months after her complaint was not retaliatory, as it was based on legitimate performance concerns unrelated to her lactation accommodation requests.

  • The lawsuit was filed in February 2026.
  • The court granted summary judgment to the school district in February 2026.

The players

Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District

A public school district located in Edinburg, Texas.

Female school police officer

The plaintiff in the FLSA case against the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure that working mothers have access to the accommodations they need, but this ruling shows courts will side with employers who make reasonable efforts to provide private spaces.”

— Employment law expert (Bloomberg Law)

What’s next

The plaintiff has 30 days to appeal the court's decision.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of employers proactively providing adequate lactation spaces for their employees, as required by law, in order to avoid potential FLSA violations and litigation.