The US Education Department will not set new rules for transgender athletes

The US Education Department has withdrawn its proposed rule that would have set new eligibility criteria for male and female athletic teams. This means schools receiving federal money will not get new federal guidance on how to handle transgender athletes.

The Education Department had proposed rules to clarify how schools should apply Title IX, which bans sex discrimination, to sports. The withdrawal means schools are still operating under existing interpretations, which vary widely across states and districts. This leaves schools, athletes, and parents in a legal gray area, with decisions often made at the local level or through court challenges.