Trump administration probes Cromwell Public Schools on athletic transgender policies
CROMWELL, Conn. (WTNH) — The Trump Administration is launching an investigation into Cromwell Public School's transgender athletic policy.
Cromwell schools received notice of the Title IX investigation from the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding.
If found in violation, nearly a million dollars in federal funding is at risk, the town's Mayor, James Demetriades, said.
Connecticut officials underscore challenges for LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month
'The Cromwell Board of Education is following all applicable state and federal law as well as the rules for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). Should Cromwell exclude transgender athletes, it will be ineligible for any CIAC sport,' Demetriades said in a written statement on Facebook.
On February 5, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports, banning transgender women from competing in women's sports. The United States' policy is to rescind all funds from educational programs found in violation.
Read the full letter below issued to Cromwell Superintendent Dr. Enza Macri.
Cromwell-Schools-letterDownload
Mayor Demetriades said he does not know why Cromwell was targeted.
'Let's be very clear about what is happening here, the Federal Government is targeting transgender students in an attempt to divide our community,' the mayor said.
Several state leaders, Sen. Martin Looney, Sen. Bob Duff and Sen. Matt Lesser commented on the administration's prob into Cromwell schools.
'This is the first instance we know of where the federal government is directly targeting a local Connecticut school system. This administration feels brazen enough to weaponize federal resources to target our local schools and bully and discriminate against our LGBT children while gutting critical agencies like the Department of Education. It appears cruelty is the point and instead of protecting students, they are targeting our teachers and schools and ripping funding away from basic healthcare and food assistance.
In Connecticut, we have passed legislation that reaffirms our commitment to our students' right to express their gender identity without fear of discrimination. Let us be perfectly clear – our values remain steadfast and consistent in support of individual rights and liberty, regardless of who occupies the White House or who the President decides to unfairly target next.'
The policy also includes bathroom and locker room usage.
A community gathering at Cromwell High School to support LGBTQ+ students is happening on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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