Federal Investigation Targets Portland Schools Over Transgender Athlete Policy

The U.S. Department of Education is probing potential Title IX violations in Oregon's largest school district and its sports association for permitting a transgender athlete to compete in girls' sports and access girls' locker rooms.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating Portland Public Schools and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) for policies allowing transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity.
The investigation follows complaints and public reporting about Ada Gallagher, a transgender high school runner who won girls' track events and set records in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.
Federal officials allege these practices may violate Title IX protections, as interpreted by the Trump administration's February 2025 executive order banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports.
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong stated the district is in compliance with Oregon state law, which supports gender identity-based participation, and is cooperating with the federal investigation.
If found in violation of Title IX, Portland Public Schools and OSAA could face penalties, including the potential loss of federal funding.