The U.S. Department of Education announced on May 5, 2026, that it has launched an investigation into Smith College, a private all-women’s liberal arts school in Massachusetts, for admitting transgender women. The probe by the department’s Office for Civil Rights will assess whether Smith College’s admissions policies violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education.
The department’s statement said the college has been “admitting biological men,” and noted that while Title IX allows educational institutions to maintain single-sex admissions based on biological sex, it does not extend this exemption to gender identity. Kimberly Richey, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said, “An all-women’s college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males,” emphasizing concerns about privacy, fairness, and federal compliance.
Smith College has admitted transgender women since 2015. Its current admissions policy states that applicants who self-identify as women—including cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary women—are eligible. This policy followed activism and public attention dating back to 2013, when a transgender high school senior was denied admission because of a mismatch in gender identity on her financial aid forms. Similar admissions policies have been adopted by several elite women’s colleges.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by Defending Education, a conservative legal group that opposes sex discrimination in educational settings. The complaint challenges Smith’s policy on the grounds that it conflicts with Title IX protections, which the Trump administration has interpreted strictly with respect to biological sex.
Title IX regulations under the Biden administration had expanded protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity, but these rules were invalidated by a federal court ruling in January 2025, which found legal deficiencies in the administration’s approach. Since then, the Education Department has taken steps under the Trump administration’s framework to target policies permitting transgender students in single-sex programs.
Smith College is one of roughly 30 women’s colleges currently operating in the U.S., down from more than 200 several decades ago, according to the Women’s College Coalition. Advocates for transgender inclusion argue that women’s colleges were created to support marginalized groups based on gender and support broad definitions of womanhood.
A spokesperson for Smith College did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the investigation.
Why it matters
This probe represents a key federal enforcement action over the rights of transgender individuals in education, highlighting ongoing legal and political tensions regarding gender identity and civil rights protections under Title IX. The outcome could influence policies at women’s colleges and other single-sex institutions nationwide.
Background
Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funds. Traditional interpretations focused on biological sex, allowing single-sex educational opportunities. In recent years, federal rules under the Biden administration broadened protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation, but court decisions have challenged these expansions, generating controversy and legal uncertainty. This investigation follows a pattern of Republican-led efforts from the Trump administration era aimed at limiting transgender rights in schools and higher education.
Sources
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