MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Trump administration filed suit against Minnesota and its school athletics governing body on Monday, carrying out a threat to challenge the state’s policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
Legal Challenge and Broader Context
The lawsuit is part of a larger national debate concerning the rights of transgender youth. Over two dozen states have enacted laws restricting transgender women and girls’ participation in sports, and some have also limited access to gender-affirming care for minors, though some of these policies have been blocked by courts.
The Justice Department alleges that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League are violating Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funds.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison characterized the lawsuit as “a sad attempt to get attention,” noting the issue has been subject to prior litigation. He affirmed his commitment to continue fighting the federal government’s position, stating, “It is astonishing that any president would try to target, shame, and harass children just trying to be themselves.”
Previous Actions and Funding Implications
The administration has pursued similar legal action against Maine and California, and has also threatened federal funding to some universities, including San Jose State and the University of Pennsylvania, over their policies regarding transgender athletes.
Minnesota officials previously resisted federal efforts to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports, with Attorney General Ellison filing a preemptive lawsuit last April. That lawsuit argued Minnesota’s human rights act supersedes executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, and asserted the state is already in compliance with Title IX. A ruling on the federal government’s motion to dismiss that case is currently pending.
The Justice Department asserts that Minnesota violates Title IX by allowing “boys to invade intimate spaces designated exclusively for girls, such as multi-person locker rooms and bathrooms,” in addition to allowing transgender girls to compete against cisgender girls.
The Trump administration reversed the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX, which had extended its protections to include gender identity.
The Minnesota Department of Education receives over $3 billion annually in federal funding from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, contingent upon compliance with Title IX, according to the Justice Department.
The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring Minnesota in violation of Title IX and prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls’ prep sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law against sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal money.
What is the Trump administration alleging Minnesota is doing wrong?
The Justice Department alleges Minnesota is violating Title IX by allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports and by allowing transgender students access to spaces designated for girls.
Has Minnesota responded to the lawsuit?
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the lawsuit “a sad attempt to get attention” and said he will continue to fight it.
As this legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule and what impact the decision may have on transgender athletes and the broader landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in education.
