Conservative Group Targets Maryland School District's Trans Student Protections

America First Legal, founded by Stephen Miller, files complaint over LGBTQ-inclusive policies in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:22pm

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An avant-garde painting of a school building, with overlapping, geometric shapes and waves of color in shades of blue, green, and gray, conceptually representing the ongoing debate over transgender student protections.A fractured, abstract painting captures the political and legal tensions surrounding transgender student rights in public schools.Montgomery Village Today

A conservative legal group aligned with former President Donald Trump is asking the federal government to investigate Maryland's largest school district over policies protecting transgender students. America First Legal, founded by senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, filed a complaint this week with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, accusing Montgomery County Public Schools of violating federal privacy law and constitutional protections.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing national battle over transgender rights in education, as the Trump administration's efforts to restrict trans rights collide with Maryland's state law providing explicit nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ students. The outcome could set a precedent for how much control parents have over their children's gender identity at school.

The details

America First Legal's complaint argues that the district improperly withholds information from parents and misapplies federal privacy law to justify confidentiality around transgender students' status. The group is asking federal officials to investigate MCPS, require policy changes, and consider withholding federal funds. MCPS's gender identity guidance allows staff to develop support plans for trans and gender-nonconforming students, including using affirmed names and pronouns, without automatic parental notification.

  • The complaint was filed with federal agencies this week.

The players

America First Legal

A conservative legal group founded by former Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller that is challenging LGBTQ-inclusive policies in public schools.

Montgomery County Public Schools

The largest school district in Maryland, which has implemented policies protecting the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming students.

Stephen Miller

The founder of America First Legal and a former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, known for his hardline anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ views.

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What they’re saying

“We are aware of the complaint. We will reserve comment until we have had the opportunity to review it.”

— Liliana López, Public Information Officer and Communications Director, Montgomery County Public Schools

What’s next

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education will review the complaint filed by America First Legal and determine whether to investigate Montgomery County Public Schools' transgender student policies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing national debate over the rights of transgender students in public schools, with conservative groups challenging LGBTQ-inclusive policies that aim to protect the privacy and safety of trans youth. The outcome could set an important precedent for how much control parents have over their children's gender identity at school.