The U.S. Department of Education opened sweeping Title IX investigations into 18 school districts and colleges over policies that allow transgender students to compete on teams aligned with their gender identities. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said the agency will “leave no stone unturned” as it pursues alleged violations of women’s equal‑access rights. The inquiries cover a range of systems including New York City, Tacoma Public Schools, Hawaii, and several California and Maine districts — signaling an aggressive federal enforcement posture that could expose institutions to funding risks and legal scrutiny.