Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Maryland School District Over Gender Identity Policies

The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a federal lawsuit against Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland, announced October 27, 2026. The suit claims the school system's gender identity policies infringe upon federal parental rights laws, specifically FERPA and PPRA. It alleges parents are not adequately informed or able to consent to discussions regarding their children's preferred pronouns or gender identity, raising significant legal and policy questions.