The Education Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Smith College, examining whether its policy of admitting transgender students since 2015 violates anti-discrimination laws. Smith College, one of the nation's largest women's schools with 2,500 students, now faces scrutiny as the Trump administration expands its efforts to limit transgender rights beyond sports and bathroom policies to educational admissions.

The investigation responds to a complaint from Defending Education, a nonprofit group in the parents' rights movement. The administration argues that allowing "biological males" into women's spaces raises concerns about privacy and fairness, as 4.7% of college students identify as transgender according to the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Smith College acknowledges the probe while reaffirming its commitment to institutional values and compliance with civil rights laws.

This probe represents a significant shift in federal approach, with the Trump administration opening over 40 civil rights investigations into schools protecting transgender students. The Education Department has also withdrawn from previous civil rights agreements and sued states over transgender athlete policies. The investigation could set precedent for how women's colleges nationwide handle transgender admissions, potentially reshaping institutional policies across the country.