Rep. Elise Stefanik Demands Federal Investigation into Upstate NY School District Over Transgender Athlete Policy

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Rep. Elise Stefanik is calling on the Department of Education to launch a formal federal investigation into the Saratoga Springs City School District over what she describes as a “direct violation” of President Trump’s Executive Order 4201, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The Republican congresswoman, who represents upstate New York’s 21st Congressional District, voiced sharp opposition after the school board passed a controversial resolution affirming transgender students’ rights to participate in activities and use facilities consistent with their gender identity.

As reported by The New York Post on Monday, the “Affirming Our Support for Every Student” resolution, passed on March 27, allows transgender students to compete in girls’ sports and access female locker rooms, a move Stefanik argues not only undermines Title IX protections but also flouts a clear directive from President Trump.

In a scathing letter sent Monday to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, a copy of which was obtained by The Post, Stefanik urged the Department’s Office of Civil Rights to investigate the school district and take immediate steps to determine whether the policy violates federal law. She warned that Saratoga Springs’ public schools could risk losing millions in federal funding—specifically, a reported $3 million—if found to be in violation.

“Allowing biological males into girls’ sports and locker rooms is in direct violation of Title IX and President Trump’s executive order,” Stefanik wrote in the letter.

According to The New York Post report, Stefanik cited both Title IX—which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational institutions—and Executive Order 4201, signed during Trump’s current presidential term, which aims to prevent biological males from participating in women’s sports as part of his administration’s broader policy platform on gender and education.

Stefanik asserted that the district’s transgender inclusion policy represents a “blatant violation” of federal protections for women and girls in athletic programs, insisting that biological differences must be acknowledged to ensure fair competition and safety.

“Our daughters should not be forced to compete against biological men in competitive sports or share a locker room with biological men,” Stefanik said, as was reported by The New York Post.

She also called the policy part of a broader agenda driven by “Far Left woke ideology,” which she claims is infiltrating local institutions and endangering young women in the process.

Stefanik’s aggressive stance comes as the congresswoman reportedly considers a run for governor of New York in 2026. Her campaign against progressive gender policies—especially in schools—has elevated her profile nationally, particularly among conservatives who view her as a rising star in the Trump-aligned wing of the GOP.

As The New York Post report noted, Stefanik has also become a vocal critic of elite academic institutions. Just last week, she co-signed a letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber demanding extensive documentation related to the university’s handling of antisemitic incidents and hiring practices. The letter sought to determine whether Harvard violated federal civil rights laws while receiving U.S. taxpayer funding.

Her scrutiny of Harvard stems not just from policy interest but personal connection—Stefanik is a Harvard alumna, and she has repeatedly clashed with her alma mater over what she considers ideological bias and institutional failure to protect Jewish students and uphold free speech standards.

Stefanik gained national attention in December 2023, during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, where she forcefully questioned the presidents of Harvard, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania about their universities’ responses to antisemitic behavior on campus, as was indicated in The New York Post report.  Her interrogation of then-Harvard President Claudine Gay became a viral moment, and Gay resigned shortly after, amid mounting pressure and a separate plagiarism scandal.

Stefanik has joined forces with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) in demanding sweeping reforms across higher education, including merit-based hiring, an end to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, and greater screening of international students to prevent the admission of individuals harboring hostile ideologies or ties to terror-affiliated groups, the New York Post reported.

In response to those efforts, the Trump administration recently announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard and has floated the idea of stripping the university of its tax-exempt status.

Stefanik’s letter to Secretary McMahon appears to be part of a broader cultural and legal clash over the boundaries of Title IX, the role of federal executive authority, and the growing conflict between transgender rights and women’s rights in sports.

The New York Post report explained that while progressives argue that inclusive policies are essential to protecting the dignity and well-being of transgender students, Stefanik and many conservatives contend that such policies undermine decades of progress made under Title IX, which was designed to ensure equal opportunities for women in athletics and education.

As Stefanik put it in her letter, “I join President Trump in his commitment to protect our nation’s girls and daughters,” adding that radical ideologies “have no place in our communities.”

The Department of Education has not yet responded publicly to Stefanik’s request. However, The New York Post report noted that if the agency’s Office of Civil Rights finds the Saratoga Springs school district in violation of Title IX or Executive Order 4201, it could trigger a review of federal funding and potential legal consequences for the district’s leadership.

In the meantime, Stefanik is likely to continue using her platform to rally support around conservative educational policies as she positions herself for broader leadership within the Republican Party—and potentially a statewide run.