Education Department revokes 2024 Title IX rule, reinstates 2020 regulations

Education Secretary Linda McMahon told reporters that the department is formally rescinding the 2024 Title IX rule issued by the Biden administration and reinstating the 2020 regulatory language. She emphasized that the move reestablishes the principle that boys compete in boys’ sports and girls in girls’ sports, providing clear guidance for students, educators and parents. The Biden rule, which had expanded protections to include gender identity, had already been struck down by courts, and the department had been enforcing the earlier Trump-era rules since January 2025.

McMahon did not announce a specific compliance deadline, stating schools should simply revert to the prior standards. She noted that the department can withhold advance funding from states deemed “high risk” and may refer non-compliant cases to the Justice Department, as seen in the lawsuit against Maine. The administration also cited a settlement with the University of Pennsylvania that restored titles to female athletes after a transgender swimmer’s participation.