On March 30, 2026, the Trump administration sued the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League to prevent the state from allowing transgender students to compete in athletic competitions for girls and to force schools to maintain separate locker rooms and bathrooms based on sex, with no exceptions for gender identity. The Trump administration claims Minnesota has engaged in sex-based discrimination and violated civil rights protections for girls by allowing transgender students to participate on girls’ sports teams. The complaint argues that these “discriminatory practices” violate Title IX by creating unfair competition, denying girls equal athletic opportunities, and expose girls to a hostile educational environment.  

The recent push to oust transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports follows an executive order Trump signed on February 5, 2025. The order promised to deny federal funding to high schools and colleges with policies that prevent discrimination against transgender athletes. Following that executive order, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into the Minnesota State High School League. 

Minnesota officials have long resisted the federal push to ban trans athletes from girls’ sports. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a preemptive lawsuit last April, saying the state is already in compliance with Title IX. A ruling is pending on the federal government’s motion to dismiss that case. 

In April of last year, I sued the Trump administration to stop them from targeting trans kids who just want to play on their school team. This new suit is just a sad attempt to get attention over something that’s already been in litigation for months. I will continue to stand up to the Trump administration and do everything in my power to stop them from bullying vulnerable children in Minnesota.Attorney General Keith Ellison