Trump Administration Formally Cancels Biden Title IX Rule

The Education Department formally canceled the Title IX regulations put in place by the Biden administration that never took effect nationwide. A federal judge previously vacated the 2024 rule in January 2025, which reverted regulations back to the version finalized in 2020 during the first Trump administration. Monday's action officially reinstates that 2020 rule. The Education Department stated this move will provide clear guidance for parents, students, and educational institutions on the legal requirements of Title IX, which is the federal law banning sex-based discrimination in education. These rules outline how colleges must respond to reports of sexual harassment and discrimination, among other provisions. Officials made four minor changes to the 2020 rule to comply with other court orders and policy changes, noting the action reflects no essential legal or policy determination other than the fact that the 2024 rule is not in force.

Reactions and Future Changes

The Biden rule had clarified protections for transgender students by stating that Title IX bars discrimination based on gender identity, but those changes faced heavy criticism and lawsuits. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has targeted schools and colleges allowing trans students to use bathroom facilities or compete on teams matching their gender identity, arguing those policies put cisgender women and girls at risk. While Monday's notice is largely a formality, the administration plans to amend regulations further to align with President Trump's executive orders on gender identity. The regulatory agenda says these changes will clarify that Title IX implementation is based on sex, referring exclusively to an individual's immutable biological classification as male or female. Shiwali Patel, senior director of education justice at the National Women's Law Center, stated that the administration and McMahon are weaponizing Title IX to attack trans students while ignoring the needs of sexual violence survivors. Advocacy groups have argued the 2020 rule made reporting sexual harassment harder and created other barriers for victims.

Context

Title IX is a foundational U.S. civil rights law enacted in 1972 to ensure equal access and non-discrimination in education programs receiving federal financial assistance. Rules governing how schools investigate and handle complaints under the law frequently change with shifts in presidential administrations and through ongoing legal challenges in federal courts.