Trump Administration Sues Minnesota Over Transgender Athletes in Girls Sports

Lawsuit alleges state's policies violate Title IX, unfairly undermine girls' participation.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:44pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a transgender athlete running on a track, their body repeated in overlapping geometric waves of vibrant colors, capturing the motion and energy of the legal and social debate surrounding this issue.A lawsuit over transgender athletes in girls' sports exposes the complex legal and social tensions surrounding gender identity in competitive athletics.Minneapolis Today

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota and its state high school athletics governing body, alleging that the state's policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports violate federal Title IX laws against sex discrimination. The Justice Department claims Minnesota's policies 'unfairly undermine girls on the playing field' and that the state risks losing over $3 billion in federal education funding if it does not prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls' prep sports.

Why it matters

This lawsuit is part of a broader national debate over the rights of transgender youth, with more than two dozen states passing laws restricting transgender athletes from participating in certain sports. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how federal Title IX laws are interpreted when it comes to transgender inclusion in high school and college athletics.

The details

The lawsuit alleges that Minnesota's Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League are violating Title IX by 'requiring girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions that are designated exclusively for girls and allowing boys to invade intimate spaces designated exclusively for girls, such as multi-person locker rooms and bathrooms.' The Justice Department claims Minnesota's policies ignore 'biological reality' and undermine opportunities for cisgender girls in sports.

  • The lawsuit was filed by the Trump administration on March 30, 2026.
  • Last September, the civil rights offices at the Education and Health and Human Services departments put Minnesota on notice that they faced legal action if they did not stop violating federal Title IX laws.

The players

Pamela Bondi

The Attorney General who announced the lawsuit on behalf of the Trump administration.

Minnesota Department of Education

The state agency that the lawsuit alleges is violating Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.

Minnesota State High School League

The state's governing body for high school athletics that the lawsuit claims is also violating federal law.

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What they’re saying

“The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field.”

— Pamela Bondi, Attorney General

What’s next

A federal court in Minnesota will now decide whether to declare the state in violation of Title IX and order it to prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls' prep sports.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing national debate over transgender rights and the complex legal questions surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in gendered sports. The outcome could set an important precedent for how federal civil rights laws are interpreted when it comes to transgender inclusion in high school and college athletics.