Trump DOJ, Education Dept form task force to protect female athletes from 'gender ideology' in schools, sports

"OCR under this Administration has moved faster than it ever has, and the Title IX SIT will ensure even more rapid and consistent investigations," McMahon said. "To all the entities that continue to allow men to compete in women's sports and use women's intimate facilities: there's a new sheriff in town. We will not allow you to get away with denying women's civil rights any longer."

The unit comprises investigators and attorneys from the OCR, the ED Office of General Counsel, and the ED Office of Student Privacy and Protection, along with caseworkers and an FSA Enforcement investigator. The unit also includes attorneys from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

The unit comes as Trump has been facing pushback from both lawmakers and judges for his gender-related orders.

Trump and Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills sparred in February over Trump's order banning biological males from women's sports. During a National Governors Association meeting, Trump accused Mills of defying federal orders by continuing to allow transgender women to compete in women's sports. Following the confrontation, the Trump administration launched investigations into Maine's education department.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also froze funds to certain educational programs in Maine due to the state's rebellion. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins indicated the funding freeze could be lifted if Maine aligns with federal interpretations of Title IX.

Under then-President Joe Biden's interpretation, transgender students were allowed in women's sports, bathrooms, changing room facilities and in other educational programs.