A federal district court in Minnesota largely dismissed the State of Minnesota’s lawsuit challenging the federal government’s interpretation of Title IX regarding transgender students’ participation in athletics and use of school facilities. The court allowed only one claim to proceed, finding Minnesota plausibly alleged that the federal government may be attempting to impose funding conditions that were not clearly communicated when the state accepted federal funds.
The dispute stems from executive orders directing federal agencies to interpret Title IX’s sex-based protections according to biological sex. Minnesota, citing state laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, maintained that schools may allow transgender students to participate in athletics and access facilities consistent with their gender identity. After federal agencies investigated Minnesota’s education agencies and athletic association and concluded they were violating Title IX, Minnesota filed suit challenging those actions.
While the court determined Minnesota had standing to bring the lawsuit, it dismissed most of the state’s claims, including those brought under the Administrative Procedure Act, Title IX, the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment, and the Declaratory Judgment Act. The court concluded that many of the issues depended on unresolved questions regarding Title IX’s meaning and that the agencies had not yet taken final action subject to judicial review. The Spending Clause claim remains pending.
For school districts, the decision does not resolve the underlying Title IX questions regarding transgender student participation in athletics or access to facilities. Instead, it reflects the continuing legal uncertainty in this area as courts across the country address competing interpretations of federal law. We will continue to monitor this litigation and related cases and provide updates as additional rulings are issued.
As school districts across the country have found, transgender student rights issues can create enormous legal liability for school districts. Contact any member of our Student/Special Education Practice Group with questions regarding Title IX compliance, transgender student issues, and developing federal guidance affecting schools.
Source: State of Minnesota v. Trump, 2026 WL 2295012 (D. Minn. Aug. 10, 2026)
