‘Robbed’: Trump probes major school district over boy in girls’ sports
The Trump administration is beginning to crack down on school districts that allow biological males to compete in female sports, as his Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opens an investigate into the government school system in Portland, Oregon.
The department Tuesday announced it had sent a letter to Superintendent of Portland Public Schools Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong notifying her that the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, has opened an investigation into the district amid allegations it has violated Title IX – the landmark federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination among entities that receive federal funds.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Education, “These allegations include allowing a male track student athlete to compete in a girls’ interscholastic track and field competition on March 19, 2025, and permitting the male athlete to use the girls’ locker room while female athletes were changing. OCR also sent a letter notifying the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the governing body for the Portland Interscholastic League, that it was opening a directed investigation into its ‘gender identity participation’ policy, which appears to violate Title IX.”
The investigation is based on a complaint filed with the OCR.
“We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the anti-discrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights. “President Trump and Secretary McMahon have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls. OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades.”
The DOE further explained that the male athlete in question competed in the girls’ track and field division over the last two seasons. He took the first-place trophy from female competitors in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes, beating the closest female racer in the 400-meter dash by over seven seconds and setting season records, typical results for males who compete against females on the rack.
OSAA’s “gender identity participation” policy “allows students to participate for the athletic or activity program of their consistently asserted gender identity while providing a fair and safe environment for all students.”
NEW: ED opened an investigation into Portland Public Schools & the Oregon School Activities Association amid allegations that they violated Title IX by allowing a male student athlete to break records in a girls’ track and field competition last week. https://t.co/xwEMbixlA0 pic.twitter.com/Mig9uOb8HB
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) March 25, 2025