Federal probe targets Smith College's transgender admissions policy

The U.S. Education Department has opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College over its policy of admitting transgender women, arguing that the law’s single-sex admissions exception applies to biological sex rather than gender identity and that trans students’ access to women‑only spaces is under review. The inquiry follows a 2025 complaint by Defending Education, and Smith College began admitting trans women in 2015, stating its policy reflects its founding mission while evolving with the changing world. Responses from peer women’s colleges were not immediately provided.