The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has determined that Loudoun County Public Schools violated Title IX by discriminating against male students and retaliating against them during an investigation into sexual harassment claims. According to the OCR, Loudoun County failed to respond as required under Title IX to reports of sexual harassment in a boys’ locker room and did not treat male students equitably throughout its grievance process.
The OCR investigation found that while complaints from two male students regarding the presence of a member of the opposite sex in a male-only space were not meaningfully investigated, a female student’s complaint about the boys was thoroughly examined.
“Loudoun County’s adherence to radical gender ideology has repeatedly placed its students in harm’s way. First, Loudoun’s policy of allowing students to occupy intimate facilities based on ‘gender identity’ rather than biological sex violates Title IX, compromises safety, and infringes upon the dignity and privacy interests to which students are entitled. Second, Loudoun County failed to treat allegations of sexual harassment equally: it promptly investigated a female student’s complaint but quickly dismissed and failed to meaningly investigate two of its male students’ complaints of sexual harassment,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. “We urge Loudoun County to abandon its reliance upon post-modern ideology and instead embrace the requirements of law by coming into compliance with Title IX. The Trump Administration’s dedication to equal protection under the law is unwavering, and we will not permit rogue localities to defy that principle.”
Loudoun County Public Schools now has ten days to voluntarily enter into a Resolution Agreement with the Department. This agreement would require actions including rescinding suspensions imposed on the two male students; reviewing findings related to discipline for these students; issuing letters apologizing for failing to properly investigate Title IX complaints; notifying affected parties that their formal complaints will be promptly investigated according to Title IX standards; and providing training for staff who handle such reports.
During the 2024-2025 school year, a biological female identifying as male accessed the boys’ locker room under county policy. In March 2025, this student recorded audio and video of two male students, prompting both her parent and those of the two males to file Title IX complaints.
OCR concluded that Loudoun County did not treat these male students fairly during its investigation process, which violates federal prohibitions on sex discrimination and retaliation in education programs receiving federal funds.
In July 2025, OCR determined that five Northern Virginia school divisions—among them Loudoun County—had violated Title IX through policies permitting access to intimate facilities based on gender identity rather than biological sex. When these divisions rejected an OCR-proposed resolution agreement, the Department began seeking suspension of federal financial support.
By August 2025, these divisions were designated “high-risk” entities by the Department and moved onto reimbursement status for all federal funds received—amounting collectively to more than $50 million—to ensure compliance with federal law governing use of taxpayer dollars.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in any federally funded educational program or activity.
