Federal Judge Overturns Education Department’s Expansion of Title IX for Transgender Issues

January 9, 2025 TruthUSA

The judge determined that the rule change exceeded the scope of Title IX, which is designed to prevent sex-based discrimination.

On January 9, a federal judge annulled the Education Department’s efforts to broaden Title IX protections to include individuals identifying as transgender, ruling that the 2024 regulation is unlawful.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex and is applicable to schools receiving federal funds.

In its regulation, the Department of Education (DOE) mandated that discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation is illegal.

States initiated lawsuits, and a judge temporarily halted the rule as the legal proceedings unfolded. U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves ultimately reversed the rule in his recent ruling.

The judge described the regulation as arbitrary and capricious, contravening federal law due to the DOE’s neglect in addressing the “glaring inconsistencies” it introduces, such as the prohibition on sex-segregating facilities like bathrooms and showers, he noted in a 15-page decision.

“The chief purpose of Title IX is to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex—incorporating gender identity undermines the statute and largely nullifies its intent,” he remarked.

Judge Reeves rejected a suggestion from federal officials to permit parts of the rule to be implemented, determining that the entire regulation was void.

“While the Court has the option to devise a different remedy, there is no justification for doing so in this case,” he stated, adding, “The seriousness of the mistake strongly supports vacating the Final Rule, as it is unlawful on multiple grounds.”

This decision emerged from a lawsuit filed by six states: Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“Tennessee has achieved a significant victory for common sense, and for women and girls across the nation,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti stated in a press release.

“The revisions to Title IX proposed by the Biden administration would have undermined sex-based protections for biological women across all educational contexts and represented a setback for the advancements made by women,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey commented in a release.

The DOE did not provide a response to a request for comments.

Previous rulings have also blocked the regulation in a number of other states.

This ruling arrives as President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20. During his campaign, Trump assured his supporters that he would strive to keep men out of women’s sports.

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