The U.S. Department of Education has declared June as ‘Title IX Month’ to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the landmark 1972 law that banned sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. The initiative, announced on Monday, seeks to highlight women’s rights and assert the administration’s commitment to restoring Title IX protections, which the department alleges have been weakened under the Biden administration.
This move comes as trans athletes continue to make headlines by competing and winning in girls’ sports, igniting a national debate on gender identity and athletic participation. The Department of Education stated that the month-long observance will include actions to reverse what it describes as the Biden administration’s policies that allegedly undermined Title IX protections. The initiative also includes an investigation into the University of Wyoming and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado for allegedly allowing males to reside in female-only communal spaces.
Recent cases have drawn particular attention, such as a male-born high school softball pitcher in Minnesota leading his team to the state tournament and trans athletes winning titles in California and Oregon. The Department of Education’s announcement is part of a broader effort to address what it calls systemic violations of Title IX, a law that has long been a cornerstone of gender equality in education.
Several states have faced penalties for violating Trump’s executive order, with Maine temporarily losing federal funding for non-compliance. The Department of Education’s statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized the administration’s commitment to restoring women’s rights and protecting their opportunities in sports and intimate spaces like dormitories and fraternity houses. The move reflects a broader political debate over gender identity policies and the interpretation of Title IX, with the administration framing its actions as a defense of traditional gender roles and women’s rights.