Trump admin accuses Minnesota of violating Title IX by allowing males to compete in female sports

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's administration announced on Tuesday, September 30, that Minnesota violated Title IX by allowing transgender-identifying males to compete in female sports and use female-designated facilities.

In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order preventing transgender women from competing in female categories of sports. The order provided regulations, legal interpretations, and even enlisted the Department of Education to investigate high schools thought to be non-compliant.

Trump admin says Minnesota allowed men in girls’ Nordic skiing team and other sports

The Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) accused the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) of violating Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination for their policies prioritizing "gender identity" over biological reality.

The Education Department mentioned in a press release, "The joint finding determined that, over the course of several years, MDE and MSHSL allowed male athletes to compete on the girls’ Alpine ski team, the girls’ Nordic skiing team, the girls’ lacrosse team, the girls’ track and field team, the girls’ volleyball team, and the girls’ fastpitch softball team."

Interestingly, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights initiated an investigation in February 2025 after MSHSL publicly stated it would follow The Minnesota Human Rights Act which prohibits discrimination of based on protected class, such as sexual orientation and gender identity.

Meanwhile, by June, HHS initiated its own compliance review after a transgender-identifying male athlete, Charlie 'Marissa' Rothenberger from Champlin Park High School, was victorious in several girls’ MSHSL softball matches, including a state championship.

Education Department says Minnesota 'has found itself on wrong side of justice' for years

Education Department’s acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a press statement, "For too many years, Minnesota’s political leadership has found itself on the wrong side of justice, common sense, and the American people. Now the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League find themselves on the wrong side of Title IX by allowing males to compete in women’s sports."

Trainor added, "The Trump Administration will not allow Minnesota or any other state to sacrifice the safety, fair treatment, and dignity of its female students to appease the false idols of radical gender ideology. Once an education program or entity takes federal funds, Title IX compliance becomes mandatory. And the federal government will hold Minnesota accountable until it recognizes that fact."

Meanwhile, HHS' OCR Director Paula M Stannard said in a press statement that Minnesota’s policy "denies females the equal opportunities under Title IX that they deserve in athletic competition."

"Minnesota fails to recognize the fundamental biological differences between males and females—differences that justify single-gender teams and are essential to ensuring fair and safe competition for girls and women," Stannard said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education and HHS issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to MDE and MSHSL to voluntarily resolve their Title IX violations within 10 days or "risk imminent enforcement action", the agencies mentioned.