President Biden, when he was elected in 2020, promised to immediately overturn Trump-era Title IX reforms. But the bold changes he introduced to the federal government’s gender equality law have hit a series of regulatory and political roadblocks causing chaos and confusion among compliance officers, university leaders and students. Judges have temporarily blocked enforcement in nearly half the country, leaving the future of Biden’s reforms hanging in the balance. Get up to speed with Inside Higher Ed’s coverage of the key developments.
A spate of lawsuits and court injunctions has complicated colleges’ efforts to comply with the Biden administration’s overhaul of the 52-year-old law, leaving Title IX coordinators frustrated and uncertain about how to move forward.
Conservatives have partly stymied the administration’s efforts to overhaul Title IX, getting the new regulations temporarily blocked in 26 states over objections to expanded rights for LGBTQ+ students. Here’s how the last 100 days have unfolded.
A recent injunction barred the Education Department from enforcing its new Title IX rule at colleges attended by members of two conservative student groups. Hundreds of colleges across the country are affected.
The wide-ranging regulation changes how colleges respond to reports of sexual misconduct, but most criticism focuses on provisions that expand protections to LGBTQ+ students.
Judges have temporarily blocked the new Title IX regulations in 10 red states so far. Experts expect a long legal fight that could end at the Supreme Court.
Eight states—so far—say they’ll defy the Biden administration and not comply with the new Title IX regulations. That would imperil nearly $13 billion in federal aid for public universities in those states.
Designed to protect college and university students and employees from sex-based harassment and sexual violence, the regulations will overhaul how institutions respond to reports of sexual misconduct, among other changes.
Know Your IX’s transformation from online campaign to organization with a national network of student activists is a snapshot of how the movement to end campus sexual assault has evolved.
