(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services are referring alleged Title IX violations by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League to the U.S. Department of Justice after the agencies declined to comply with federal demands.
In September, the Education Department launched an investigation into MDE and MSHSL for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports, including Alpine ski, Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, volleyball and softball.
Federal officials gave MDE and MSHSL 10 days to resolve the alleged Title IX violations through a proposed Resolution Agreement. Both agencies declined to accept the agreement.
This “referral to DOJ underscores the state's ongoing failure to safeguard its citizens and uphold the rule of law,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. “The Trump Administration will not stop until accountability is delivered for Minnesota’s students.”
This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which states that it will cut funding from educational programs that “deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities,” citing Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
Since stepping into office, the Trump administration has investigated, frozen federal funding and sued various school districts, education departments and universities over allegations of federal law violations.
The Center Square requested comments from MDE and DOJ, but has not received a response.
“Minnesota is violating Title IX, and we will not look the other way,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. “When states allow males to compete in girls’ sports, they deny young women and girls the protections the law guarantees."
"Esther is an education reporter for The Center Square. Please email her at ewickham@thecentersquare.com for tips or questions."
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