Here’s what conservatives need to know.
Two Virginia school districts are suing President Trump’s Department of Education after federal officials moved to freeze millions in taxpayer funding over controversial gender rules.
Fairfax County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools filed lawsuits Friday, claiming the Trump administration has no authority to cut their federal aid. At issue is the president’s executive order declaring that federal law recognizes only two sexes — male and female.
Trump’s Push to Restore Title IX to Biological Reality
The Trump administration insists that Title IX protections are meant to safeguard women, not erase them. Officials argue that forcing schools to allow biological males in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports destroys fairness and jeopardizes safety.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon made it clear: schools cannot openly defy federal law while continuing to cash federal checks.
Virginia Schools Defy Federal Orders
Fairfax County, the largest district in Virginia with nearly 180,000 students, was warned alongside Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, and Prince William counties that gender-neutral restroom policies violate Title IX.
Despite this, Fairfax and Arlington doubled down, prompting the Department of Education to begin labeling them “high-risk” districts — a step that threatens millions in funding.
Lawsuit Over Bathrooms and Locker Rooms
The lawsuits argue that Title IX requires schools to let students use facilities that match their gender identity. But Trump officials point to recent rulings and his executive order to emphasize that “sex” means biological sex — not self-identification.
The legal clash echoes a similar fight in Denver, where the Department of Education ruled that converting a girls’ restroom into an “all-gender” restroom was a violation of federal law. Denver was told to reverse course or risk punishment.
What’s at Stake for Parents and Taxpayers
If funding is frozen, districts could lose money for free breakfast and lunch programs, special-needs services, and other federal initiatives. Arlington superintendent Francisco Durán claimed this punishes students — but Trump officials say it’s about protecting women’s rights and ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t used to promote radical gender ideology.
A National Showdown Over Education and Gender Policy
The lawsuits in Virginia mark the next chapter in a growing national fight. The Trump administration has signaled it will continue pressing schools and universities nationwide to follow federal law as written — and put women and girls first.
