Title IX Regulations Restored

U.S. Education Department Repeals Biden-Era Title IX Protections and Restores 2020 Regulations

The U.S. Department of Education has formally rescinded the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX rule and restored the 2020 regulations from the first Trump administration. The Biden rule extended Title IX’s sex-discrimination protections to sexual orientation and gender identity; courts had already blocked or invalidated it, and the department says it has enforced the earlier rules since 2025. The change may affect unresolved disputes, including cases involving transgender athletes, though its implications for ongoing litigation remain uncertain. The department says the rollback clarifies schools’ obligations and protects women’s athletic opportunities. Critics say it weakens protections for transgender students and survivors of sexual harassment and assault, while advocates have questioned whether the department can make the change without the usual notice-and-comment process. The restored regulations define sex-discrimination protections around biological sex and require a formal, hearing-based process for sexual-misconduct complaints, with a higher evidentiary standard permitted.

Key Points

Topics