Overview
- The Office for Civil Rights launched 18 investigations covering K-12 districts, colleges and state education agencies across ten states, including New York City, Hawaii, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Nevada and another New York district.
- Officials say the probes stem from complaints alleging sex discrimination under Title IX by allowing athletes to compete based on gender identity rather than biological sex, which the department argues can compromise women’s safety and equal opportunity.
- Specific reviews include Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District over an allegation that a male student tried out for the girls’ volleyball team, and the California Community College Athletic Association over a policy permitting transgender female or nonbinary athletes on women’s teams after one year of testosterone suppression.
- The investigations were announced a day after Supreme Court arguments in cases on state bans affecting transgender athletes, and they are being handled by the Title IX Special Investigations Team formed by the Education and Justice departments in 2025.
- Targets said they would cooperate or defend their policies, and officials noted that findings could lead to enforcement actions that place federal funding at risk for entities found out of compliance.