Trump's Attorney General Warns Three States About Transgender Sports Policies
The Education Department has initiated inquiries into state transgender policies, marking a significant move towards the potential withdrawal of federal funding from educational institutions, a measure that hasn't been implemented in decades.
TroibNews 
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued letters on Tuesday to officials in California, Maine, and Minnesota, emphasizing the need to prevent transgender students from participating in women's sports, or face potential legal consequences.
“This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law,” Bondi stated. “We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President [Donald] Trump’s executive order.”
These letters were prompted by Trump's recent executive order banning transgender individuals from competing in women's sports. Additionally, the Education Department has notified educational institutions of its intent to enforce Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination, based on biological sex.
Following this, the Education Department has commenced inquiries into the policies surrounding transgender sports participation in the three states that have laws acknowledging gender identity. The investigation into Maine's approach was launched after a conflict between Trump and Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, during a governors' meeting at the White House.
“Where federal and state law conflict, states and state entities must follow federal law — not because we live in a dictatorship but because the Constitution requires states to follow the supreme law of the land,” Bondi detailed in her letter to Mills. Similar wording appeared in the letters sent to the other two states, each threatening legal action for non-compliance.
The civil rights investigation by the Education Department is a critical step towards potentially withdrawing federal funding. The Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also initiated investigations in Maine. However, the threshold for establishing a civil rights violation is significant, and instances of cutting federal funding to educational institutions have not occurred in decades.
In her communications, Bondi also warned California Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Ron Nocetti, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Erich Martens, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, of possible legal action.
“If The Department of Education's investigation shows that the Federation is indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law,” Bondi wrote to Nocetti.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
“This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law,” Bondi stated. “We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President [Donald] Trump’s executive order.”
These letters were prompted by Trump's recent executive order banning transgender individuals from competing in women's sports. Additionally, the Education Department has notified educational institutions of its intent to enforce Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination, based on biological sex.
Following this, the Education Department has commenced inquiries into the policies surrounding transgender sports participation in the three states that have laws acknowledging gender identity. The investigation into Maine's approach was launched after a conflict between Trump and Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, during a governors' meeting at the White House.
“Where federal and state law conflict, states and state entities must follow federal law — not because we live in a dictatorship but because the Constitution requires states to follow the supreme law of the land,” Bondi detailed in her letter to Mills. Similar wording appeared in the letters sent to the other two states, each threatening legal action for non-compliance.
The civil rights investigation by the Education Department is a critical step towards potentially withdrawing federal funding. The Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also initiated investigations in Maine. However, the threshold for establishing a civil rights violation is significant, and instances of cutting federal funding to educational institutions have not occurred in decades.
In her communications, Bondi also warned California Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Ron Nocetti, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Erich Martens, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, of possible legal action.
“If The Department of Education's investigation shows that the Federation is indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law,” Bondi wrote to Nocetti.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
