Minnesota sues Trump admin to keep men playing women's sports

The Trump administration is pushing back after Minnesota filed a lawsuit to allow transgender-identifying biological men to compete in girls’ sports, calling it “creepy and anti-woman.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the lawsuit on Tuesday, targeting the Trump administration and the DOJ after the state refused to comply with Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Ellison said he received notice from the DOJ threatening legal action if the state does not adhere to the order, and the lawsuit seeks to continue to allow transgender-identifying biological males to compete in girls’ sports within the state.

"I'm not going to sit around waiting for the Trump administration to sue Minnesota. Today, Minnesota is suing him and his administration because we will not participate in this shameful bullying," Ellison said. "We will not let a small group of vulnerable children who are only trying be healthy and live their lives be demonized." 

Ellison filed the suit in US District Court in Minneapolis, arguing that the federal government does not have the authority to dictate gender eligibility policies for state-level athletic programs through executive action.

The White House issued a response to the lawsuit, with spokesperson Harrison Field telling, “Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow other biological males to participate in women’s sports? This is creepy and anti-woman.”

This makes Minnesota the first state to take legal action against the DOJ over potential funding cuts tied to transgender participation in sports. Maine previously sued over similar funding threats from the Department of Agriculture, with a federal judge later ruling against the freeze.

The DOJ has already filed suit against Maine, and US Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated Minnesota could soon face similar action.

"We’re looking at Minnesota. We’re looking at California. We’re looking at many, many states but they are the top two that should be on notice because we’ve been communicating with them," Bondi said.