Shapiro Demands Halt to Title IX Rollback Amid Pandemic

As schools across America shutter and scramble to deliver remote learning during the COVID-19 crisis, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is accusing the Trump administration of exploiting the chaos to gut federal protections for survivors of sexual assault and harassment on campus.

Shapiro is leading a coalition of 18 attorneys general demanding the Department of Education and the White House Office of Management and Budget immediately suspend plans to finalize sweeping changes to Title IX regulations. The proposed rules, first unveiled in 2018, would narrow the definition of sexual harassment, require live hearings with cross-examination, and limit school jurisdiction over complaints not filed on campus property.

“Amidst this chaos, the Trump Administration must suspend its plan to cut key protections for students who are victims of sexual harassment and assault,” Shapiro declared in a blistering March 27 statement. He warned the timing of the rulemaking—amid nationwide school closures affecting over 124,000 institutions—reeks of political opportunism while administrators are overwhelmed with basic operations.

The letter, addressed to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and OMB Acting Director Russell Vought, argues that finalizing the rules now would create legal confusion, disrupt ongoing investigations, and force schools to divert critical resources during a public health emergency. “Finalizing the proposed rule now would…cause significant confusion about ongoing Title IX complaints,” the attorneys general warn.

Joining Shapiro are top law enforcement officials from California, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Virginia, and other states—all pushing back against what they call a dangerous erosion of student rights. The coalition stresses that survivors of abuse are already less likely to report during crises, and new bureaucratic hurdles could silence more.

With the nation’s education system in survival mode, Shapiro’s message is clear: This is no time to rewrite the rules on sexual violence. Pushing the Trump administration’s agenda now isn’t just tone-deaf—it’s a direct threat to student safety.