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4w ago

Trump Administration Investigates California Over Transgender Student Privacy Law

Federal officials allege that California's law barring schools from disclosing students' gender identity to parents may violate federal privacy regulations, threatening billions in education funding.

President Donald Trump holds an executive order to start dismantling the Department of Education on March 20, 2025.
President Donald Trump holds an executive order after signing it alongside Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during an education event in the East Room of the White house in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 2025.
Supporters hold signs and cheer Education Department employees as they leave after retrieving their personal belongings from the Education Department building in Washington on March 24, 2025. 
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Overview

  • The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into California's Assembly Bill 1955, which prohibits schools from disclosing students' gender identity to parents without consent.
  • Federal officials argue the law may violate the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants parents access to their children's education records.
  • Education Secretary Linda McMahon warns that California schools could lose billions in federal funding if the law is deemed noncompliant with federal regulations.
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond have defended the law, emphasizing its role in protecting LGBTQ+ students' safety and privacy.
  • The investigation is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to challenge transgender rights policies nationwide, including bans on transgender athletes and restrictions on gender-affirming care.