The Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, on Tuesday declared that Minnesota had violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's and girls' sports. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Tuesday declared that Minnesota's policies allowing transgender athletes to play on teams that match with their gender identity violated federal law, marking the latest escalation in a feud between the federal government and the Democratic-led state.
The ruling from the civil rights offices of the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services gives Minnesota 10 days to adopt a slew of actions, including abandoning its transgender-inclusive athletic policies, or risk federal funding cuts.
"Minnesota permits male athletes to compete in sports designated for females, which denies females equal opportunities under Title IX that they deserve in athletic competition," HHS' OCR Director Paula Stannard said in a statement.
"Minnesota fails to recognize the fundamental biological differences between males and females -- differences that justify single-sex teams and are essential to ensuring fair and safe competition for girls and women."
