Justice Department Sues Minnesota to Protect Girls’ Sports and Intimate Spaces

# Justice Department Sues Minnesota Over Title IX Sports Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League on March 30, 2026, alleging violations of Title IX protections. The federal government claims the defendants engaged in sex-based discrimination by requiring girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions designated exclusively for girls and allowing boys access to intimate spaces such as multi-person locker rooms and bathrooms designated for girls.

The complaint contends that Minnesota's policies create unfair competition, deny girls equal athletic opportunities, and expose them to a hostile educational environment with risks of physical injury and psychological harm. The Justice Department seeks declaratory relief, injunctions, and damages for the alleged Title IX violations. The Minnesota Department of Education receives over $3 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services and must comply with federal anti-discrimination law as a condition of that funding.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated the Trump Administration does not tolerate state policies that disregard biological reality and undermine girls' athletic opportunities. Officials from the Justice Department, HHS, and Department of Education announced the coordinated action to enforce Title IX protections across the country.