DOJ Investigates 36 Illinois School Districts Over Gender Ideology

The United States Department of Justice launched investigations into 36 Illinois school districts, including 35 traditional districts and Chicago's largest charter school network. The Civil Rights Division is examining whether pre-K-12 curricula include sexual orientation and gender ideology content and if schools have notified parents of their rights to opt their children out of such lessons.

Led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the probe also assesses whether districts limit access to single-sex bathrooms and girls' sports teams based on biological sex. Dhillon cited Title IX and 2025 Supreme Court precedents as the legal basis for the inquiry, asserting that parents have the primary authority to direct their children's education. The Trump administration has indicated that federal funding could be at risk for non-compliant districts.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin condemned the move, characterizing the probe as a sham and a weaponization of the DOJ to punish LGBTQ+ communities and specific states. The ACLU of Illinois added that the administration is misinterpreting the law to infringe upon local school control. While District 87 pledged to cooperate with the review, this action is part of a broader national effort targeting similar policies in other states, including Michigan.