Education Dept launches 18 Title IX probes after SCOTUS hears arguments in efforts to protect women's sports

Independent Women's Law Center Director May Mailman joins 'America's Newsroom,' reacting to the ongoing hearings to determine if transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women's sports.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Wednesday it had launched 18 Title IX investigations into several school districts across the country, a day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the fight to protect women’s and girls sports.

School districts with high-profile transgender athlete controversies were among those under investigation. The targeted districts are in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.

"In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a news release.

"Time and again, the Trump administration has made its position clear: Violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable.

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A protester holds a sign outside the Supreme Court during arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

"We will leave no stone unturned in these investigations to uphold women’s right to equal access in education programs, a fight that started over half a century ago and is far from finished."

The schools under investigation included the following:

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