On Friday, the Department of Education under President Donald Trump announced a significant change regarding Title IX protections. Schools at all levels will now adhere to Title IX based on biological sex, reversing the previous changes made by the Biden administration.
In a communication titled “Dear Colleague,” the department has reinstated the Trump administration’s 2020 Title IX rule. This shift is seen as a positive move towards safeguarding free speech on campuses and bolstering the rights of students facing Title IX proceedings. Craig Trainor, who served as acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights during Trump’s tenure, criticized the Biden administration’s attempt to alter Title IX, calling it an overreach of regulatory authority that undermined protections for women and girls.
The Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX had expanded the definition of “sex” to include gender identity and sexual orientation, which raised concerns among many about fairness and safety in educational settings. U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty previously issued a ruling against this reinterpretation, pointing out that it represented a misuse of power by federal agencies.
In January, another federal judge reaffirmed this perspective, stating that Title IX clearly defines discrimination based on biological sex as being either male or female, without the additional layers of identity introduced by the Biden policies.
Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and advocate for women’s sports, celebrated this decision, affirming that the original intent of Title IX was restored—recognizing “sex” strictly as male and female. She emphasized that institutions failing to comply with the new rule may face consequences, including the loss of federal funding.
Betsey DeVos, Trump’s former Secretary of Education who played a key role in formulating the original 2020 Title IX rule, shared her approval on social media, expressing that common sense has finally returned to educational policy.
This decision marks a crucial moment in the ongoing discussion surrounding gender and education, reinforcing the commitment to equal opportunities tailored to biological distinctions in federally funded programs.
