President Donald Trump's Department of Education (DOE) has initiated investigations into potential Title IX violations at several educational institutions following the signing of an executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports.
The DOE's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will be looking into incidents involving trans athletes competing on women's or girls' sports teams at San Jose State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).
The investigations come in response to President Trump's 'Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports' Executive Order, aimed at protecting female athletes from unfair treatment.
At the University of Pennsylvania, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas made headlines by breaking women's records after transitioning from the men's team to the women's team. Former UPenn swimmers have filed lawsuits alleging the university misled them about sharing facilities with Thomas.
Similarly, at San Jose State, transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming's participation raised concerns among teammates who were allegedly kept in the dark about Fleming's birth sex. A lawsuit filed by players and a coach accuses SJSU administrators of withholding this information.
In another incident, a trans athlete from KIPP Academy Lynn caused injuries to female players from Collegiate Charter School of Lowell, leading to a forfeit. The MIAA's policy allows students to participate in gender-specific sports teams based on their gender identity.
The OCR will also be reviewing athletic participation policies at various schools to ensure compliance with Title IX protections for female athletes. The DOE recently notified educational institutions of a return to enforcing Title IX based on biological sex.
The NCAA has indicated its willingness to align with Trump's order, with NCAA President Charlie Baker acknowledging the need for a national standard and committing to reviewing and adjusting the organization's policies accordingly.
