Federal Agencies Rule Minnesota's Transgender Athlete Policies Violate Title IX

On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services determined that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports. The federal agencies stated that Minnesota's policies permitting transgender athletes to compete in sports such as Alpine and Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, volleyball, and softball, as well as granting them access to female facilities, constitute sex discrimination under Title IX.

This decision follows President Donald Trump's February 2025 executive order, which threatened to withdraw federal funding from institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, arguing it undermines fairness and safety for female athletes. The federal agencies have given Minnesota 10 days to comply with proposed conditions or face enforcement action. The MSHSL has previously stated it would adhere to state law, not federal directives.

This case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration, which has initiated over two dozen investigations into school and college transgender policies related to sports and facilities access.

The joint finding concluded that MDE and MSHSL violated Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination by allowing male athletes to compete in female sports and occupy female intimate facilities. The investigation highlighted instances where male athletes participated in girls' sports teams, including Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, volleyball, and fastpitch softball. A notable case involved a male athlete from Champlin Park High School who dominated a girls' softball match, leading his team to a state championship.

In response to these findings, ED and HHS issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to MDE and MSHSL, requiring compliance within 10 days to avoid enforcement action. The proposed actions include:

• Rescinding or revising any guidance permitting males to compete in girls’ sports to comply with Title IX.
• Issuing a statewide notice mandating strict compliance with Title IX by separating athletics and intimate facilities based on sex.
• Adopting biology-based definitions of "male" and "female."
• Restoring to female athletes all records and titles misappropriated by male athletes competing in female categories.
• Conducting Title IX training for MDE and MSHSL personnel.

This determination follows President Donald Trump's February 2025 executive order titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," which threatened to withdraw federal funding from institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, arguing it undermines fairness and safety for female athletes. The executive order directed the Secretary of Education to draft regulations clarifying that women's sports are reserved for women and to prioritize Title IX enforcement actions against non-compliant educational institutions.

The Minnesota case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration, which has initiated over two dozen investigations into school and college transgender policies related to sports and facilities access. Similar actions have been taken in other states; for instance, Maine filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture after federal education program funding was frozen due to the state's refusal to implement a federal mandate banning transgender women from participating in girls' and women's sports.

These federal actions have sparked significant debate regarding the rights of transgender individuals and the interpretation of Title IX. Advocates for transgender rights argue that such policies are discriminatory and undermine the inclusivity of educational institutions. Conversely, proponents of the federal stance contend that allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports compromises fairness and safety for cisgender female athletes. This ongoing conflict highlights the tension between federal directives and state anti-discrimination protections concerning transgender rights.

As the 10-day compliance deadline approaches, Minnesota's educational authorities face critical decisions that could impact federal funding and set precedents for the treatment of transgender athletes in school sports nationwide.