Feud over transgender volleyball player escalates as feds threaten San Jose State's funding

"The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights set a deadline Tuesday that sounds much like two earlier deadlines, giving San José State University 10 days to comply with a list of athletics-related demands or face enforcement action, including the termination of the university's federal funding."

"A federal investigation was launched in February 2025 after controversy over Blaire Fleming disrupted the 2024 volleyball season. Four Mountain West Conference teams chose to forfeit matches to SJSU."

"SJSU pushed back, insisting it followed the law in allowing Fleming to play. SJSU president Cynthia Teniente-Matson wrote in a March 6 letter to the campus community that the university 'vigorously disputes the conclusions that OCR reached.... Our position is simple: We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so.'"

The U.S. Department of Education issued a third deadline to San Jose State University, demanding compliance over a transgender volleyball player or risk losing federal funding. This follows two previous deadlines concerning the same case. A federal investigation found that SJSU's policies allowed males to compete in women's sports, denying women equal opportunities. SJSU disputes these findings, asserting compliance with the law and requesting the investigation's closure. The situation reflects a broader national conflict over transgender athletes in college sports, with a Supreme Court ruling anticipated soon.

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