Minnesota attorney general sues Trump over transgender athletes in sports

In Minnesota, Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a preemptive lawsuit against Republican President Donald Trump on April 22, 2025, aiming to block his administration’s federal push to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women’s sports. This legal action seeks to ensure the rights of transgender athletes in response to threats of federal funding cuts if the state doesn’t comply with Trump’s executive orders on the issue. Ellison emphasized that the lawsuit is necessary to protect vulnerable children from perceived bullying by the federal administration. The lawsuit questions the constitutionality of two specific executive orders issued by Trump and attempts to assert that they violate the separation of powers and Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs. Ellison also pointed out that the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which has protected transgender rights since 1993, supersedes Trump’s directives in this matter. The state’s political climate has become highly contentious around transgender rights, reflecting ongoing national debates about the involvement of transgender athletes in sports designated for women. The Minnesota State High School League had previously announced it would continue to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports, setting the stage for a clash with federal directives. This legal conflict arises amid broader societal tensions regarding transgender rights, with states like Maine also taking legal action after facing similar threats from the Trump administration. Public opinion is largely divided, with many Americans expressing concerns that permitting transgender women to compete alongside cisgender women undermines fairness in sports. The lawsuit has garnered support from local human rights activists and parents of transgender children, highlighting the state’s commitment to defending their rights against federal overreach. Critics, particularly from the Republican side, argue this legal battle represents a deviation from fairness in sports, claiming it compromises the safety and integrity of women’s athletics. Ellison’s position is reinforced by a formal legal opinion issued in February, which deems the federal directives as overreaching and damaging to the community they target. As this case progresses, it may serve as a critical legal test of the interactions between federal authority and state protections for transgender rights.