US Justice Department sues Kansas school district over transgender student policy

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against a public school district in Kansas City, Kansas, marking the first federal legal action of its kind against a school over transgender student policies.

The lawsuit alleges that a district policy directs staff to create and implement gender transition plans for students without involving their parents. Federal prosecutors argue this violates laws that protect parental access to student records and require consent before schools conduct evaluations that could reveal sensitive information.

Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said in a statement that the department would not tolerate school districts disregarding federal law in pursuit of what she called "radical gender ideology."

The school district has not yet responded to requests for comment.

This legal action follows earlier threats by the Trump administration to cut federal funding for schools over transgender policies. The administration has also taken steps to restrict gender-affirming care for minors and has directed federal agencies to recognize only two sexes.

Separately, the Justice Department has been seeking records from healthcare providers related to transgender youth, though several courts have blocked those efforts.