The Education Department’s civil rights arm launched an investigation into Smith College, an all-women’s school, for allegedly violating federal sex discrimination laws by admitting trans women and allowing them to access bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories and participate in women’s sports.

It is the latest college to be targeted by the agency’s Office for Civil Rights as the Trump administration looks to squash policies related to students’ gender identity nationwide.

Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for the civil rights office, said in a statement, “An all-women’s college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males.”

“Allowing biological males into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance under federal law,” she continued, referring to Title IX, the federal law that bars sex discrimination.

A spokesperson for Smith College said in a statement it received notice from the civil rights office and the school does not comment on ongoing government investigations.

"The College is fully committed to its institutional values, including compliance with civil rights laws," the spokesperson said.

The investigation springs from a June 2025 complaint filed by Defending Education, a conservative advocacy group, that raised concerns about Smith College’s admissions practices and its policies concerning locker room and bathroom access and sports participation on the basis of gender identity.

“We’re gratified that they have an open investigation into it,” said Nicole Neily, president of Defending Education. “I believe very strongly in the importance of single-sex spaces, be it a boys camp or an all-women's college. And how Smith College has been addressing the issue of gender, to me, is very troubling.”

“It sends a very mixed message that natal males who identify as female are allowed to attend, but biological girls who identify as boys are not,” she continued. “There's clearly a lot of room and conversations for these issues to be decided in the years to come.”

Bianca Quilantan contributed to this report.