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NewsCBS News PoliticsMay 5, 2026United States

Department of Education Investigates Smith College Over Transgender Admissions

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into Smith College to determine if its policy of admitting transgender women violates Title IX. The probe follows a complaint filed by the conservative group Defending Education, which argues that the college's admissions policy conflicts with federal law regarding biological sex.

EducationTitle IXTransgender RightsHigher EducationCivil Rights
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Why It Matters

The investigation could force Smith College to change its admissions policies or risk losing federal funding if the Department of Education determines the school is in violation of .

Key Facts

  • The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into Smith College on Monday, May 5, 2026.
  • The investigation examines whether Smith College's admission of transgender women violates Title IX, a 1972 law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education.
  • The probe was triggered by a complaint filed by the group Defending Education in June 2025.
  • Smith College has officially admitted transgender women since 2015.
  • The Department of Education asserts that Title IX exceptions for single-sex institutions apply only to biological sex, not gender identity.
  • The number of women's colleges in the U.S. has dropped from over 200 to 30 as of fall 2023.
  • A federal judge struck down Biden-era Title IX regulations regarding gender identity in January 2025.

Who's Mentioned

organizationU.S. Department of Education“The federal agency conducting the investigation through its Office of Civil Righ”personKimberly Richey“Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education.”organizationWomen's College Coalition“An organization providing statistics on the number of women's colleges in the U.”organizationSmith College“A private liberal arts college in Massachusetts currently under federal investig”organizationDefending Education“A conservative legal group that filed the complaint against Smith College in Jun”