Members of the GOP, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have strongly criticized the Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX. The rule, which aims to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in schools, has faced opposition from Republicans at both the state and federal levels.
In response to the rule, 10 states have temporarily blocked it from taking effect on August 1. Republican attorneys general from 26 states have also challenged the rule, with some states filing individual lawsuits against the administration. Despite these efforts, the Department of Education is appealing the decisions to halt the rule’s implementation.
DeVos, who was instrumental in implementing changes to Title IX during the Trump administration, emphasized the need to return to the original intent of the legislation. Prominent Republicans in Congress have introduced legislation to reverse the rule under the Congressional Review Act, with a full House vote expected soon.
Advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, have criticized Republican opposition to the rule, accusing them of neglecting the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students. Despite potential opposition in Congress, President Joe Biden is likely to veto any attempts to block the rule. The Department of Education has defended the rule, stating that it is necessary to prevent sex discrimination in federally-funded education programs.
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