New York City Public Schools have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, which has cut $47 million in grant funding due to the schools’ transgender bathroom policies. The lawsuit argues that the funding cuts were made without proper notice or a hearing, and that the policy changes conflict with state and city laws against sex-based discrimination. The Education Department claims the policies violate Title IX by violating the rights of female students.
The dispute has led to similar actions in other districts, such as Chicago and Fairfax County, where the Education Department has also issued letters about the policies. The lawsuit seeks to reverse the funding cuts and assert that the schools are in compliance with Title IX and local laws.
New York City school officials have affirmed that they believe their policies are in line with both Title IX and state and local laws, which prohibit sex-based discrimination. Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos stated that the Education Department’s actions contradict not only legal standards but also the values of New York City Public Schools. An Education Department spokesperson has stated that they see no merit in the lawsuit and that the grant program requires certification of civil rights compliance, which they claim the city has not met.
Under the Trump administration, federal officials have shown a tendency to target school districts for policies that allow students to use bathrooms or participate on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. This is in line with recent actions, such as the order by New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa to temporarily suspend new bathroom restrictions for transgender students in a suburban district of New York City. The Massapequa School District, which previously implemented a policy to restrict transgender students from using bathroom and locker room facilities based on biological sex, has since modified its approach, offering a gender-neutral option for students who prefer it.