Press Releases

Washington, DC — Following the Department of Education’s announcement of a final rule that both formally rescinds the Biden-era Title IX rule—which strengthened protections for survivors of sexual violence and harassment, as well as clarified protections for pregnant, parenting, and LGBTQI+ students—and recodifies the Trump-era 2020 rule which significantly weakened protections against sexual harassment, the Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statements: 

“Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s reinstatement of Trump’s reckless 2020 Title IX policy will severely weaken protections against the sexual assault and harassment, and discrimination of all students. The Trump administration’s claim that this will address the pervasive culture of sexual assault in schools is a dangerous lie. Make no mistake, it will leave our most vulnerable students who face harassment and bullying further at risk,” said Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “This policy will create additional barriers and delays for survivors navigating the Title IX process. We have already called out the administration for resolving ZERO sexual misconduct cases. The administration is choosing to use the safety of girls as a ploy to perpetuate hate against LGBTQI+ students. The Democratic Women’s Caucus will continue the fight to strengthen and expand Title IX protections until all girls are able to attend school free from the fear of violence and discrimination. If Republicans truly want to prioritize the safety of women and girls in school, they would protect survivors. This Administration has done everything it can to minimize the voices and needs of survivors of sexual assault." 

“Trump’s Department of Education has obsessively weaponized Title IX to attack trans people under the false pretense of protecting girls and women, but this rule is further proof that that pretense has always been a lie,” said Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and Senior Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Mark Takano (CA-39). “A Senate report found that, under Trump and Secretary McMahon, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights didn’t reach a resolution agreement for a single sexual harassment or violence case in 2025, proving how this Administration has failed to protect students. Now, they’ve recodified a rule that weakens protections for students, especially protections against sexual harassment and violence. All students, including LGBTQI+ students, deserve to go to school free of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and violence, but this rule is just the latest example of how Trump and McMahon don’t care about keeping students safe.”