Title IX enforcement in jeopardy, affecting gender equity

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has been important in enforcing Title IX, a law that supports gender equity in sports. This comes at a crucial time as college athletic departments are set to start paying student-athletes. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could possibly close the Department of Education. This raises concerns about the future of gender equity in sports. The White House has not detailed which functions may be cut or moved to other departments. Trump mentioned that core functions, like funding for low-income schools, will be preserved. The Office for Civil Rights oversees how schools must provide equal opportunities for male and female athletes. Currently, there are hundreds of investigations into sex discrimination in athletics. The office also handles how schools respond to reports of sexual harassment. In a recent move, the department stated that Title IX does not apply to payments from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes. This decision changes how college departments may distribute payments, potentially favoring men's sports over women's. Despite these challenges, many advocates, including the Women's Sports Foundation, insist that Title IX must still be enforced. They argue that education and equal opportunities in sports are vital for both boys and girls. The future of the office and its functions remains unclear, including how ongoing investigations will be handled. Experts worry that without enforcement from the Department of Education, more responsibility for addressing inequality may fall to the courts. If the government does not have the resources to enforce Title IX, victims of discrimination might have to seek justice on their own. This could lead to more legal battles for those affected by inequality in sports.