Judge Blocks Biden Administration’s Title IX Changes
Judge Reed O鈥機onnor said the Biden administration didn鈥檛 have the authority to make the changes, which would expand anti-discrimination protections.
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A Texas federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s efforts to extend federal anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students.
In his ruling Tuesday, Judge Reed O’Connor said the Biden administration lacked the authority to make the changes and accused it of pushing 鈥渁n agenda wholly divorced from the text, structure, and contemporary context of Title IX.鈥� Title IX is the 1972 law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings.
鈥淭o allow [the Biden administration鈥檚] unlawful action to stand would be to functionally rewrite Title IX in a way that shockingly transforms American education and usurps a major question from Congress,鈥� wrote O鈥機onnor, a President George W. Bush appointee. 鈥淭hat is not how our democratic system functions.鈥�
The Biden administration鈥檚 new guidelines, issued in April, expanded Title IX to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The changes would make schools and universities responsible for investigating a wider range of discrimination complaints. The rule changes came as several states, including Texas, have approved laws in recent years barring transgender student-athletes from participating in sports teams that correspond to their gender identity. The Biden administration hasn鈥檛 clarified whether the new guidance would apply in those cases.
Texas and several other states have the Biden administration over the new rule. . A month after the guidelines were released, Gov. called on school districts and universities .
鈥淭hreatening to withhold education funding by forcing states to accept 鈥榯ransgender鈥� policies that put women in danger was plainly illegal,鈥� said Texas Attorney General in a statement applauding Tuesday鈥檚 ruling. 鈥淭exas has prevailed on behalf of the entire Nation.鈥�
An U.S. Education Department said in a statement it stands by its revised guidelines.
鈥淓very student deserves the right to feel safe in school,” the statement reads.
This article originally appeared in at . The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at .
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