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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration has issued a stern warning to San Jose State University, giving the institution a 10-day deadline to address what the U.S. Education Department identifies as Title IX violations concerning transgender athletes. Failure to comply could result in legal action and the potential withdrawal of federal funding.
In January, the Education Department concluded that the university discriminated against women by allowing a transgender athlete to compete on the women’s volleyball team. The department’s ultimatum was delivered in a letter on Tuesday.
Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, stated that the administration had offered the university several options to rectify the violations. These included separating athletes into “male” and “female” categories based on the administration’s definitions.
“Yet, SJSU remains obstinate, choosing a radical ideology over safety, dignity, and fairness for its own students,” Richey commented. “With today’s action, the Department is putting the university on notice: comply with the law or risk losing its federal funding.”
Title IX is a federal law enacted in 1972 aimed at ensuring gender equity in education.
In a letter to the department, the university said Title IX prohibits discriminating against transgender individuals.
The Education Department has taken action against a series of states, schools and colleges that allow transgender athletes to participate on sports teams, something President Donald Trump has promised to end.
The investigation into San Jose State was opened in February 2025 alongside a similar one at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn later agreed to a deal similar to the one being offered to San Jose State, modifying school records set by a transgender swimmer and apologizing to other athletes on the swim team.