The US Department of Education has threatened two public school districts in Michigan and Maryland with the loss of federal funding over policies protecting the privacy of transgender students, marking the latest move by President Donald Trump’s administration to roll back transgender rights.
In a statement issued on Monday, the department said it was working with the Department of Justice to investigate the districts, warning that enforcement measures could include legal action and the withdrawal of federal funding.
The department accused Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by treating information about a student’s gender identity as confidential medical information that cannot be disclosed to parents.
It also alleged that Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan was likely violating the same federal law through a policy it said required school employees to conceal a student’s transgender status from their parents.
According to the Education Department, the Trump administration will proceed with enforcement action against Anne Arundel County Public Schools, while Ann Arbor Public Schools has until August 10 to explain why similar action should not be taken against it.
Responding to the allegations, Anne Arundel County Public Schools said, in a statement quoted by an NBC affiliate, that it first became aware of the Education Department’s claims through the agency’s public announcement.
The district said it had not received any formal correspondence or documentation supporting the findings and would carefully review any information once it is received before responding through the appropriate process.
Ann Arbor Public Schools did not immediately comment on the allegations.
The latest action is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to restrict protections for transgender people. Since returning to office, Trump has signed a series of executive actions targeting transgender rights and directed that the US government recognise only two sexes—male and female.
The administration has also sought to withhold federal funding from educational institutions over issues including climate initiatives, diversity programmes and pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Civil rights organisations have criticised the administration’s approach, arguing that such measures undermine academic freedom, free speech and due process protections.
Boluwatife Enome
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