U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is pushing for a federal investigation into the Saratoga Springs City School District, accusing the board of violating President Donald Trump’s executive order that bans transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
The controversy centers around a school board resolution passed last month titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” which reaffirmed the rights of transgender students to use facilities and participate in sports teams that align with their gender identity.
Stefanik Demands Action
In a letter sent Monday to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Stefanik called for an immediate investigation. She also pointed to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and programs receiving federal funding.
Stefanik wrote on social media,
“I join President Trump in his commitment to protect our nation’s girls and daughters. This Far Left woke ideology has no place in our communities.”
According to The New York Post, the Saratoga Springs district could face the loss of up to $3 million in federal funding — about 2% of the district’s total budget — if found in violation of the executive order.
A Broader Crackdown on Schools and Universities
The push for federal enforcement follows similar actions by the Trump administration:
- Billions of dollars in federal grants have already been frozen for some universities, including Harvard University, where Stefanik herself studied, over their refusal to limit political protests on campus.
- The University of Pennsylvania lost approximately $175 million in federal funding over controversy surrounding a transgender swimmer who last competed there in 2022.
Stefanik emphasized her stance in the letter, saying,
“Our daughters should not be forced to compete against biological men in competitive sports or share a locker room with biological men.”
Stefanik’s Rising Political Profile
A known Trump loyalist, Stefanik represents New York’s 21st Congressional District. She is rumored to be considering a run for New York governor in 2026.
Earlier this year, Stefanik was also floated as a candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, but President Trump ultimately withdrew her nomination, reportedly due to concerns about maintaining the slim Republican majority in the House.
If the Department of Education launches an official investigation, Saratoga Springs schools could be one of the first K-12 districts penalized under the Trump administration’s stricter enforcement of gender and sports policies.
The case could also become a high-profile test for how the administration intends to handle school districts nationwide that continue to support transgender students’ participation in sports based on gender identity.