The U.S. Department of Education opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College’s admissions policy after federal civil rights officials said the school could be violating anti-discrimination law by admitting transgender women to women-only spaces. The inquiry targets how Smith characterizes “access to women-only spaces,” including dormitories, bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletics. Smith has said it considers for admission any applicants who self-identify as women and that cis, trans, and nonbinary women are eligible. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights framed its complaint using “biological males” language and argued such access may breach Title IX requirements for federally funded education programs. This development follows a broader federal shift under the Trump administration, where agencies have sought to interpret Title IX in ways that treat sex-based space access as requiring different treatment. For colleges dependent on federal funds, the investigation adds compliance urgency around institutional definitions, campus access policies, and potential litigation exposure.