TL;DR

  • US agencies warned Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools over a trans student privacy policy.
  • Officials said the district could face legal action and funding cuts if it does not comply.
  • The policy bars staff from disclosing a student’s trans status or gender expression without consent.
  • The district says the measure is intended to protect privacy and safety.

The Trump administration has threatened Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools with a loss of federal funding unless it changes a policy meant to protect transgender students from being disclosed to their parents without consent.

In a statement issued on Tuesday 30 June, the US Departments of Education and Justice said they were prepared to take legal action against the district if it does not alter its approach. Federal officials also said they could withhold funding if the district refuses to comply.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon

At issue is a policy directing staff not to reveal a student’s transgender status or gender-nonconforming presentation without the student’s permission, including in communications with parents, according to Reuters.

Administration officials say the policy conflicts with parents’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. The district says the policy is intended to protect students’ privacy and safety.

Angelina Jolie in a silver Versace dress on the red carpet for Marvel's Eternals

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in the department’s statement that the administration would “reject dangerous political ideologies” and work with the Justice Department to ensure schools comply with federal law.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the district was unlawfully withholding information from parents and said the government would pursue “all available avenues” to force compliance.

Inform, Inspire, Empower

The dispute fits into a wider Trump administration push to roll back protections for transgender students.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has also challenged similar anti-outing policies in the state since 2024, despite there being no Kansas law requiring schools to disclose a student’s gender identity to their parents.

The school district had not publicly responded to the federal government’s latest threat.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/pinknews/

Related stories

4 images
What do you think?
Alexander Rivera
About the author

Alexander Rivera

Alex Rivera, a seasoned political journalist, brings over a decade of experience covering U.S. politics. An alumnus of Columbia University's Journalism School, Alex is known for insightful analyses of political trends a…

More stories →