Minnesota faces US lawsuit over transgender participation in school sports

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota and its school athletics governing body, escalating a contentious national debate over transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports, according to a report by AP News. The legal action, announced Monday, alleges violations of Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funding.

The move is part of a broader policy push targeting states that permit transgender students to compete in sports aligned with their gender identity. Minnesota officials, however, have pushed back strongly, calling the lawsuit politically motivated and vowing to defend existing state protections.

Federal lawsuit alleges Title IX violations

As reported by AP News, the lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department names the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League. It argues that allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports undermines fairness and violates Title IX protections for female athletes.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the administration would not allow policies that “ignore biological reality” and disadvantage girls in competitive sports. The complaint also raises concerns about access to shared spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms.

To support its claims, the lawsuit cites a 2025 state championship softball game in which a transgender pitcher led Champlin Park High School to victory, arguing that such cases highlight perceived competitive imbalances.

Minnesota pushes back, calls lawsuit political

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison dismissed the lawsuit as a political maneuver, describing it as an attempt to draw attention to an issue already being litigated, AP News reported. He criticised the federal government for targeting transgender youth and said the state would continue to defend its policies.

Minnesota has long resisted federal efforts to restrict transgender participation in school sports. In April last year, Ellison filed a preemptive lawsuit asserting that the state’s human rights law takes precedence over federal executive actions and that Minnesota is already compliant with Title IX. A ruling in that case is still pending.

Part of wider national legal battle

The Minnesota case is one of several similar actions taken by the Trump administration, according to AP News. Lawsuits have also been filed against Maine and California, while universities such as San Jose State and the University of Pennsylvania have faced threats to their federal funding over transgender athlete policies.

The administration has also reversed the previous interpretation of Title IX under the Biden administration, which had extended protections to gender identity. Federal authorities have warned that non-compliance could put billions of dollars in funding at risk, with Minnesota alone receiving over $3 billion annually in federal education and health grants.

The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring Minnesota in violation of Title IX and compelling the state to bar transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports.

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