Virginia school districts are suing the Trump administration over threats to strip federal funding tied to transgender student policies.
Two Northern Virginia school systems have sued the Education Department over threats to withhold millions in federal funding tied to their policies for transgender students.
Fairfax County and Arlington County filed complaints in federal court Friday, asking a judge to reverse sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, which designated them “high risk” recipients of funds. The Education Department said the districts violated Title IX by allowing transgender students access to restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
Fairfax officials said the decision is “effectively freezing” $167 million in federal support, while Arlington cited $23 million at risk. Arlington leaders argued the district “is being asked to violate both state and federal law, and that’s unacceptable.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the sanctions, saying, “It’s disturbing that these Virginia school division leaders are fighting harder to keep boys in girls sports and bathrooms than they are to improve outcomes for students.”