Sixteen states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Friday, challenging threats to withdraw federal funding from schools that include gender diversity or comprehensive sex education programs.
The lawsuit claims the administration is violating federal law by attempting to pressure states into changing curricula based on “political and ideological grounds.” Plaintiffs argue that cutting funding would harm students’ access to medically accurate and inclusive education.
Led by Oregon, Washington and Minnesota, the states involved say the administration’s threats are unprecedented and part of a broader effort to restrict discussions about gender and sexual orientation in schools. Federal funding under Title V, the lawsuit notes, is intended to support evidence-based health and sex education, not to enforce ideology.
Other states listed on the suit include Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
The Trump administration’s Department of Education has not yet commented publicly on the lawsuit, but the guidance that prompted the filing suggested states risk losing grants if programs include material deemed inconsistent with the administration’s definition of acceptable sex education.
Legal experts say the case could have wide implications for how far the federal government can influence local curricula. Advocates for comprehensive sex education argue that such funding threats could disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ students and those in marginalized communities, limiting access to critical health information.
The lawsuit is now before a federal court, with hearings expected in the coming months. Observers say the outcome could set a precedent for future federal involvement in education policy nationwide.
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