The Biden administration on Friday withdrew an amendment to Title IX that would have prevented local school districts from restricting transgender athletic participation.
In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Education proposal sought to negate any ban on transgender athletes participating based on their gender identity, as opposed to their biological sex.
With the new Trump administration one month away, the Biden administration will not have enough time to finalize the rules. Scrapping the initiative prevents Trump from rewriting it to push his own policy agenda.
A document from the Department of Education that withdrew the request cited a negative public response and pending lawsuits over transgender participation in sports.
“In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time,” it wrote. “Therefore, the Department hereby withdraws the Athletics NPRM and terminates this rulemaking proceeding.”
“We do not intend for a final rule to be issued on this NPRM,” it added.
The move follows a fierce battle over the inclusion of gender-altering procedure coverage for military families in the 2025 National Defense Authorization. Despite strong support from Democratic lawmakers, Republicans eventually got their way and tossed that section of the bill.
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