Federal Judge Halts Title IX Changes in High-Profile Case

A federal judge in Kentucky has blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to update Title IX definitions, dealing a significant blow to the proposed expansion of gender identity protections in educational settings.

At a Glance

Judge Danny C. Reeves issued a nationwide injunction against Biden’s Title IX revisions.
The ruling prevents the inclusion of “gender identity” in Title IX protections.
Several states sued against the rule, arguing it violated state laws and First Amendment rights.
Republicans and conservative groups praised the decision as a win for women and girls.
The Education Department’s rule is now reverted to the previous interpretation of Title IX.

Judge Blocks Biden’s Title IX Overhaul

In a decisive ruling, Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky Court has halted the Biden administration’s ambitious plan to revamp Title IX regulations. The judge deemed the 1,500-page proposal “arbitrary and capricious,” citing violations of the spending clause and the First Amendment. This decision effectively prevents the administration from implementing broader protections based on gender identity within educational institutions nationwide.

The case, known as Cardona v. Tennessee, saw several states, including Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia, challenging the Biden administration’s rule. These states argued that the proposed changes conflicted with their laws and infringed upon First Amendment rights. Judge Reeves’ ruling emphasized that the administration had overstepped its authority, attempting to enforce regulations that contradict the plain language of Title IX.

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Reactions from Both Sides of the Aisle

The ruling has been met with enthusiastic approval from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti hailed the decision as a victory for common sense and for women and girls across America. Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy and House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of preserving opportunities and safety for women and girls in educational settings.

“This is a huge win for Tennessee, for common sense, and for women and girls across America” – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti

On the other side, the Education Department has remained silent on the ruling. However, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon had previously defended the regulation, criticizing court decisions that blocked it as “absurd.” The Biden administration had touted the rule as the most comprehensive Title IX coverage in nearly 50 years, aiming to overhaul the previous Trump administration’s approach to handling sexual misconduct in schools.

Implications for Educational Institutions

The court’s decision means that educational institutions across the country must continue to operate under the previous interpretation of Title IX. This ruling effectively protects the traditional understanding of gender discrimination as referring to biological gender, not gender identity. It also addresses concerns raised by opponents of the Biden administration’s rule, particularly regarding transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports.

Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, who had supported the Biden administration’s expansive interpretation of Title IX, now face a setback in their efforts to secure broader protections for transgender and non-binary students. Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers are preparing measures to restrict transgender student participation in sports and to define gender under Title IX as gender assigned at birth.