The U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services have ruled that Minnesota violated Title IX by allowing biological male athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
The investigation targeted the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). It followed concerns raised after a transgender pitcher led a girls’ high school softball team to a state championship. Federal officials said the pitcher dominated competition, giving up just one earned run across 35 innings and striking out 27 batters.
In addition to softball, the Department of Education cited examples in girls’ Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, and volleyball. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said Minnesota’s leadership had chosen ideology over fairness.
“For too many years, Minnesota’s political leadership has found itself on the wrong side of justice, common sense, and the American people,” Trainor said. “The Trump Administration will not allow Minnesota or any other state to sacrifice the safety, fair treatment, and dignity of its female students to appease the false idols of radical gender ideology.”
The ruling requires Minnesota to comply with President Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order. The state has 10 days to amend policies or risk losing federal funding.
The federal government outlined strict conditions. Among them, Minnesota must rescind guidance allowing males in girls’ sports, adopt biology-based definitions of sex, and issue a statewide notice mandating Title IX compliance. Schools will also need to certify annually that they are following the rules.
Other requirements include restoring records and titles to female athletes, sending letters of apology to affected students, and submitting updated training materials for federal approval. If the state fails to comply, the case will be referred to the Department of Justice.
Minnesota now joins Maine and California, which already face DOJ lawsuits over similar policies involving trans athletes in girls’ sports.