On Thursday, January 9, 2025 a federal judge struck down the Biden administration’s Title IX rule nationwide, declaring that the regulations violated the U.S. Constitution. The rule, released last April, offered protections for the first time for LGBTQI+ students and employees at federally funded schools and colleges by prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. However, the rule quickly drew legal challenges and Courts blocked the regulations in at least 26 states.

On Friday, January 10th, U.S. Secretary Miguel Cardona told K-12 Dive that he was disappointed by the ruling by saying, “We really pushed for better protection on college campuses for victims of sexual violence, and we have some judge out of Tennessee — who’s probably looking to make a name for themselves — blocking it for the whole country.” The rule “was going to make sure that all students were respected and honored. I think we’re taking steps backwards when we are lessening protections for students.”

The January 9th decision effectively vacates regulations altogether, which had enshrined protections for the first time for LGBTQI+ students and employees.

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