The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened investigations into 18 schools, districts, and other entities across 10 states, accusing them of violating Title IX by letting males compete in girls’ and women’s sports. These probes target policies that prioritize gender identity over biological sex, putting female athletes at a disadvantage in terms of safety, fairness, and opportunities. The move comes just days after the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could reshape Title IX enforcement nationwide.
President Trump’s administration made its stance clear last year with Executive Order 14201, signed on February 5, 2025, which bars biological males from women’s sports at federally funded institutions. The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” aimed to reverse what many see as harmful policies from the previous administration that allowed such participation. Now, with these investigations, the Education Department is enforcing that directive aggressively, responding to complaints from parents, athletes, and advocacy groups.