The US Department of Education has formally rescinded protections for LGBTQ students under Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in schools.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the rollback on September 28, 2026. The Biden administration’s 2024 rule had extended protections to gender identity and sexual orientation; schools must now revert to the framework used during the first Trump administration.

McMahon said the action makes the regulations “faithfully reflect court orders and Congressional intent” and protects women’s sports. Courts in Republican-led states had struck down parts of the Biden rule, and the administration said the change removes confusion for schools and families.

Critics condemned the decision. The National Women’s Law Center said it harms transgender students and weakens protections for survivors of sexual assault, and legal challenges are expected.

The rollback is the latest in a series of Trump administration moves to reverse Biden-era policies on gender and education. Supporters of the change say it restores fairness in women’s sports and protects single-sex spaces, while critics argue it strips vulnerable students of civil rights protections they had only recently gained. Both sides expect the fight to play out in federal courts for years.