The Federal Government Opens Investigations Into Transgender Bathroom Policies In Three Maryland School Districts

WASHINGTON — On June 23, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it was opening investigations into policies regarding male-to-female transgender students using female bathrooms, locker rooms and other similar accommodations in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Frederick counties. Additionally, these investigations will look into transgender students participating in female sports teams.

The latest series of investigations, which will also target the Maryland State Department of Education, are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to require transgender people to use public facilities and participate in athletic activities that match their sex assigned at birth.

The initial press release written by the federal government explains that it is concerned that some Maryland school systems may be violating Title IX, a law that strictly prohibits any form of sex-based discrimination in federally funded education.

A complaint received by OCR outlines that in some Maryland school districts, transgender students who were born male are allowed to compete in female-based athletics programs and use female facilities. It was also alleged that some girls complained about the latter issue, but they were told to use single-person bathrooms instead.

The recent press release outlines the actions that may be taken if Maryland school districts are found to be in violation of Title IX following the federal government’s investigation.

“Title IX is enforced by the Department’s OCR and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Violation of Title IX can result in termination of an educational entity’s federal funding.”

If Prince George’s, Montgomery or Frederick County is found to be in violation of Title IX, then it risks losing funding from the federal government. To learn more about the latest investigation, visit ed.gov.

Public Perception On Transgender Topics In 2026

Investigations and legislation focused on transgender topics are often complex and controversial. Some issues surrounding transgender people, like their involvement in women’s sports, are consistently opposed by the majority, whereas everyday bathroom use is usually more mixed.

A 2025 Gallup poll recorded that around 69% of adults in America oppose male-to-female transgender women playing on women’s sports teams, while a 2025 Pew Research Center survey identified that only about 49% of people favor requiring transgender people to use bathroom facilities based on their sex assigned at birth. Additionally, that same Pew Research Center survey identified that over 50% of adults favor protections that would prevent job and housing discrimination for transgender people.

Many critics of sex-based bathroom laws have consistently pointed out that forcing transgender people into bathrooms that match their sex at birth may keep transgender women assigned male out of female facilities, but it also forces female-to-male transgender people into those spaces, who may be indistinguishable from biological men in their day-to-day lives.

Due to these nuanced issues, and many more, there often isn’t an easy way to regulate transgender issues regarding topics like bathrooms and sports, especially since different states often set different policies.

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