New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) initiated a legal challenge against the U.S. Department of Education (ED) this week, aiming to prevent the withdrawal of $47 million in federal funding after the district declined to modify its transgender policy.
The Trump administration has consistently warned about potential funding cuts if schools do not adhere to guidelines allowing students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their biological sex.
“The immediate outcome of the Department’s actions is a complete disruption of schools’ capability to implement specialized programs during the academic year,” the lawsuit claims. Additional federal funding is described as essential for supporting various educational subjects.
The lawsuit argues:
Furthermore, the Department’s actions appear to be a blatant attempt to bypass Congressional directives regarding the withdrawal of school funds: the alleged cancellation of NYCPS’s Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grant is being executed improperly, failing to follow the necessary procedures prescribed by Title IX and the associated federal regulations for MSAP grants.
A representative from the federal agency stated, “The department believes this lawsuit lacks merit.”
“The MSAP program necessitates certification of civil rights compliance, which we clearly could not ensure given New York City’s ongoing refusal to uphold the rights of female students under Title IX,” the spokesperson further noted.
Federal education authorities have given public schools in New York, Chicago, and Fairfax County, Virginia, until September 16 to revise their policies or face funding reductions.
“The department will not simply approve civil rights compliance in New York, Chicago, and Fairfax, especially when they are clearly discriminating against students based on race and gender,” department spokesperson Julie Hartman remarked in a statement.
Hartman added that parents “have a right to expect quality education,” criticizing so-called “inclusive” policies as a cover for “ideological education.”
“Should these institutions continue their unlawful actions jeopardizing federal funds, the consequences will rest solely on them,” she commented.
As previously reported, public schools in Arlington County and Fairfax County, Virginia, have also filed lawsuits against the Department of Education concerning the Trump administration’s transgender policies. Additionally, a school district in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., lost its funding in September for not repealing its transgender policies.
“It’s concerning that educational leaders in Virginia prioritize keeping boys out of girls’ sports and restrooms over improving student outcomes,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated at that time, emphasizing that the department “proudly” maintains “common sense” and safeguards girls.
