Education Department investigating women-only Smith College for allowing transgender students

Published May 5, 2026 10:07am ET | Updated May 5, 2026 10:18am ET



The Department of Education is investigating Smith College to determine whether or not the institution violated Title IX by admitting transgender students into the all-women’s college.

“An all-women’s college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “Allowing biological males into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance under federal law.”

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