US threatens funding cuts for two school districts over transgender policies

The U.S. Education Department has threatened two school districts in Michigan and Maryland with federal funding cuts over their transgender policies, the latest action by President Donald Trump's administration to limit transgender rights.



It said in a statement on Monday it was partnering with the Department of Justice in looking at the issue, and that enforcement actions could include "applicable judicial proceedings and potential loss of federal funding."



The Education Department is accusing Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act by classifying information about a student's gender identity as "confidential medical information" that cannot be shared with parents.



It also said that Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan is likely violating the same law with a policy it described as requiring "school employees to hide a child's transgender status from his or her parents."



In a statement cited by an NBC affiliate, Anne Arundel County Public Schools said it first learned of the Education Department's assertions through the department's statement, adding it did not receive any formal correspondence or documents to support the findings.



It added that it will carefully review such information once received and will "respond through the appropriate process."