The United States Department of Education has initiated an investigation into Smith College, a historic women's institution in Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender students. The probe, announced on Monday, will examine whether the college's acceptance of transgender women and their access to women-only facilities such as dormitories and bathrooms violates Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.
Government Stance on Biological Sex
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated, "An all-women's college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males. Allowing biological males into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance under federal law. The Trump Administration will continue to uphold the law and fight to restore common sense." The Department of Education argues that the single-sex exception under Title IX applies based on biological sex, not gender identity, and that enrolling male students professing a female identity disqualifies the institution from single-sex status.
Smith College's Response
Smith College confirmed it received notification of the investigation but declined to comment on pending federal probes. In a statement, the college said, "The College is fully committed to its institutional values, including compliance with civil rights laws." Smith College first announced its policy to admit transgender women over a decade ago, reaffirming in 2015 that the decision "affirms Smith's unwavering mission and identity as a women's college, our commitment to representing the diversity of women's lived experiences, and the college's exceptional role in the advancement of women worldwide."
Background of the Complaint
The investigation stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by Defending Education, a conservative legal organization. Nicole Neily, president of Defending Education, expressed gratitude for the probe, stating, "I believe very strongly in the importance of single-sex spaces, be it a boys camp or an all-women's college. And how Smith College has been addressing the issue of gender, to me, is very troubling."
Broader Political Context
President Donald Trump has frequently employed anti-transgender rhetoric, claiming Democrats want "transgender for everybody." After returning to the White House, he declared a federal policy recognizing only two sexes, male and female. In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order seeking to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports. The Biden administration had previously expanded Title IX to better protect LGBTQ+ students, but these rules were struck down by a federal judge in January 2025, who found they exceeded presidential authority.
The number of women's colleges in the United States has declined sharply, from approximately 230 in 1960 to just 30 in 2023, according to the Women's College Coalition. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the remaining single-sex institutions and their admissions policies.
