U.S. Department of Education Concludes Loudoun County Public Schools Violated Title IX and Retaliated Against Male Students Amid Sexual Harassment Claims

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department)'s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that Loudoun County Public Schools (Loudoun County) violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) by discriminating against male students on the basis of sex. OCR concluded that Loudoun County failed to respond as required by Title IX to reports of sexual harassment in the boys' locker room at a Loudoun County school and retaliated against male students by failing to treat the parties equitably during its grievance and investigative process.

OCR's investigation revealed a sex-based double standard: Loudoun County failed to meaningfully investigate complaints of sexual harassment by two male students concerning the presence of a member of the opposite sex in male-only intimate spaces yet thoroughly investigated the female student's sexual harassment complaint about the boys.

"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 has ten days to voluntarily enter the Department's Resolution Agreement, which requires Loudoun County to take the following actions:

• Rescind the suspensions imposed on the two male students;
• Review its findings to determine if discipline of the male students is warranted and, if Loudoun County determines that it is, the discipline must not exceed the discipline imposed on students who engaged in similar conduct and who had comparable disciplinary histories;
• Issue letters apologizing for Loudoun County's failure to properly investigate Title IX complaints;
• Notify the students and their parents that Loudoun County Public Schools will promptly investigate the formal Title IX complaints in a manner that is compliant with the requirements of Title IX; and
• Provide training to all high school and Loudoun County staff who receive or respond to reports of sexual harassment under Title IX.

Background

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, a biological female who identified as a male was allowed access to the boys' locker room pursuant to Loudoun County policy. In March 2025, the female student recorded audio and video of two male students. This led the female student's parent and the two male students' parents to file Title IX complaints with the school.

Loudoun County failed to treat the male students equitably throughout the Title IX investigation process, which violates Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination and retaliation.

In July 2025, OCR found that five Northern Virginia School Divisions, including Loudoun County, violated Title IX by having policies which allow students to occupy intimate facilities based on 'gender identity,' not biological sex. After the Divisions' rejection of OCR's proposed Resolution Agreement to voluntarily resolve its Title IX violations, the Department is seeking suspension of federal financial assistance to the Divisions.

In August 2025, to ensure that the Divisions expend taxpayer dollars consistent with federal law, the Department designated the Divisions as "high-risk" entities and placed the Divisions on reimbursement status for all Department funds, totaling over $50 million.

Title IX and its implementing regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities.

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