Overview

• The Education Department began formal proceedings to suspend or terminate federal funding for Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington and Alexandria school districts after they refused to rescind transgender-inclusive facility policies.
• A July Office for Civil Rights report concluded the districts violated Title IX and urged them to rescind transgender-inclusive policies and adopt biology-based definitions of male and female in school practices.
• Last week, Loudoun’s school board voted 6–3 to maintain Policy 8040 and the other four districts issued statements upholding their existing gender-identity facility guidelines.
• Federal dollars at risk cover special education, nutrition and Title I programs, with Loudoun facing up to $50 million in potential cuts and Fairfax up to $160 million.
• District officials have cited state antidiscrimination laws and Fourth Circuit precedents protecting transgender students as justification for resisting federal demands and are pursuing legal clarification.