Feds Challenge Minnesota's Lawsuit Over Trump Transgender Sports Policy
The federal government is contesting Minnesota’s ability to sue over Trump’s transgender sports order.
Why it matters: The dispute pits federal enforcement of Title IX, the 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education, against state-level protections for transgender athletes. In-house counsel and litigators must prepare for shifting compliance requirements and possible funding risks.
- Minnesota sued in April 2025, citing its Human Rights Act to oppose new federal transgender athlete restrictions.
- The Trump administration filed a competing suit in March 2026, alleging Minnesota’s school sports policies violate Title IX.
- Over $3 billion in federal education funding for Minnesota could be affected by the outcome.
- Minnesota’s High School League has allowed transgender athletes to participate by gender identity since 2015.
The Biden-to-Trump administration transition led to sharp legal battles over transgender student athletes. In February 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14201, directing schools that receive federal funds to restrict female sports teams to athletes assigned female at birth. The order aims to standardize policies nationwide affecting transgender girls’ eligibility in girls’ sports.
Minnesota anticipated litigation and sued the administration in April 2025. The state argued its Human Rights Act—protecting people against discrimination based on gender identity—should control school policies within Minnesota, not federal executive orders.
In March 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice countersued, claiming Minnesota’s policies violate Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs. The DOJ complaint cites concerns that Minnesota requires girls to compete against transgender girls and allows those students into girls-only facilities.
Minnesota’s High School League adopted its transgender inclusion policy in 2015, permitting transgender athletes to participate according to gender identity after review by an independent panel (Sports Illustrated).
- Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, "The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field."
- Attorney General Keith Ellison countered, "It is astonishing that any president would try to target, shame, and harass children just trying to be themselves, let alone a president with so many actual problems to address."
The cases carry national implications for legal departments, compliance teams, and policy-setting at schools and state agencies that rely on federal education funds.
By the numbers:
- $3B+ — Federal education funding Minnesota risks annually if it loses the federal suit.
- 18-1 — 2015 board vote by the Minnesota State High School League to allow transgender athletes.
Yes, but: Minnesota’s standing to sue is contested, which could end its case before substantive review.
What's next: Both suits are scheduled for a joint status hearing in federal court on June 21, 2026.