The Trump administration strikes back at the Minnesota State High School League’s decision to comply with state law and Let transgender-athletes compete according to their gender identity.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights said that the launched IX investigations of Minnesota and California’s interscholastic athletic organizations of “plans to violate federal anti -discrimination laws related to girls and women’s sports.”

MSSL said last week that it would not be in line with President Donald Trumps executive order prohibiting trans participation in women’s and girls’ sportChoose to stick to the memorial charter against discrimination which includes gender identity as a protected class.

“The president cannot delete the IX or Minnesota State Law department, which respects transgender people who are studied according to executive order,” said Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, personnel lawyer with American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota.

She expects legal action against the president’s order and not much impact in the meantime.

“If they want to change rules and regulations for Department IX to attack transgender sportsmen, they must go through a legal process to do so,” added Ahlin halverson. “But even beyond that, the Minnesota Act is clear, and the president cannot change the Minnesota law through the executive order.”

Also on Wednesday, the Minnesota House republicans sent a letter to MSSL and expressed concern that it does not plan to follow the executive order. It also explains that there are bills – HF12/SF916 Submitted this legislative session aimed at changing the law to support President Trump’s position.

House DFL representative Leigh Finke, who himself is a transgender, shared the following statement with 5 Eyewitness News.

“I am grateful that the Minnesota team requires full inclusion in athletics and that MSSL intends to follow our laws.

“We have seen that trans -incomprehension in youth sports is not a threat to anyone in Minnesota, where trans participation has coincided in a record growth of cisgender girls who participate in youth sports.

The Trump administration cannot change our state laws by issuing an executive order. It is unfortunate that my Republican colleagues encourage MHSL to ignore state law in an attempt to curry benefit with Donald Trump. “

“OCR’s regional office in Chicago and San Francisco will conduct targeted investigations of both organizations to ensure that female athletes in these states are treated with dignity, respect and equality required by the Trump administration,” acting assistant for civil rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. “I would remind these organizations that the story does not look kindly on units and says that actively opposed that the implementation of federal laws on civil rights that protect women and girls from discrimination and harassment.”

Trump’s executive order last week tried to “revoke all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls to fair athletic opportunities.”

MSHSL released the following statement:

Separately from his statement, when asked about federal funding, shared MSSL, “Liga is a non -profit organization that does not receive any federal financing.”

Minnesota House Republicans also sent a letter to MSHSL, as can be seen below:

State legislators have taken measures in recent years to strengthen the status of Minnesota as a “refugee state” for the trans community. 2023 updated the legislature Minnesota Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on one’s gender identity. Another action Protects access to gender -affirming care and protecting health care providers from having legal consequences to provide such care.

Last week, the Minnesota national lawyer Keith Ellison sued the Trump administration over an executive order that tried to ban gender-affirming care for people 19 and younger.

Outside Minnesota, an LGBTQ+ lawyer organization, gave the following statement to 5 news about eyewitnesses:

“In Minnesota, we are extremely proud of our sports teams and athletes at all levels of games. And our state has shown over several years that inclusion is not in violation of justice and security – in fact, it is inclusion that makes us stronger.

“We deeply believe in the importance of anti -discrimination protection and promise of department IX.

“Today’s announcement that the Ministry of Education is investigating the Minnesota State High School League together with California’s interscholastic federation tries to increase years of good, including politics with Utestad and exclusively interpretation of federal law. We condemn this feature, and the continued abuse of the rights of trans people and athletes.

“We think everyone deserves the chance to play.

“And we will continue to advocate for the rights of our community to do so.”