San Jose State And Penn Face Inquiries In Trump Crackdown On Transgender Athletes

The Trump administration is investigating potential civil rights violations at two universities and a high school sports league that allowed transgender athletes to compete on women's teams , the Education Department said Thursday.

The agency is opening reviews of San Jose State University volleyball, the University of Pennsylvania's swimming program and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

It comes a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. The order calls for penalties against schools and leagues, saying competing against transgender athletes deprives female students of equality.

"The previous administration trampled the rights of American women and girls - and ignored the indignities to which they were subjected in bathrooms and locker rooms - to promote a radical transgender ideology," said Craig Trainor, the department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The Education Department said it proactively opened the new cases over suspected violation of Title IX , a 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education. Opening an inquiry isn't meant to indicate a finding of wrongdoing, according to department policy. Additionally, the agency said it is reviewing athletics policies at a number of other schools.