U.S. Sen. Mark Warner criticized the Trump administration’s targeting of Northern Virginia school districts over transgender bathroom policies during a media availability Thursday, calling the federal government’s actions against some of the state’s best school divisions “remarkable.”
Warner responded to a question from ALXnow about the timeline for potential federal funding cuts to Alexandria City Public Schools, which along with four other Northern Virginia districts faces ongoing disputes with the U.S. Department of Education over Title IX compliance.
“It is remarkable to me that the Trump administration has targeted the five Northern Virginia districts, some of the best school divisions we’ve got in our state,” Warner said during the remote media availability from the U.S. Capitol. “And this is over a bathroom policy.”
The senator emphasized that most other Virginia school divisions continue following the same bathroom policies because they align with Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rulings that remain “the standing law of the land in this area across Virginia.”
ALXnow reporter Ryan Belmore asked Warner about Alexandria schools’ clarification that no federal funds have been cut off yet, only moved to reimbursement-only status, and sought the senator’s understanding of potential escalation timelines.
Warner framed the dispute as an attempt at political targeting rather than legitimate policy enforcement.
“Going after our top school divisions, I think it’s an attempt of politicization,” Warner said. “Are you asking our school divisions to basically go against the 4th Circuit ruling? And I think it’s a, once again, an example of trying, trying to make an example for political purposes.”
The Education Department placed Alexandria and four other Northern Virginia districts on “high-risk” status in August after they rejected federal demands to change policies allowing transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity. The designation requires schools to pay expenses upfront before requesting federal reimbursement, creating cash flow challenges even while funding continues.
Warner said he and Sen. Tim Kaine plan to continue fighting the federal actions, questioning how the government can force school divisions to act against appellate court rulings.
“[Kaine] and I and others, we’re going to continue to fight back,” Warner said. “I don’t know how you can force a school division to go against an appellate court ruling, which is, at least at this stage, the law of the land for Virginia.”
The dispute began when the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights concluded that Alexandria’s policy providing facility access based on “gender identity” rather than biological sex violates Title IX. Conservative legal group America First Legal triggered the investigation with a complaint filed in February.
The five affected districts — Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County — serve more than 386,000 students and face more than $300 million in federal funding at risk.
Warner and Kaine sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday demanding immediate reversal of the funding restrictions.
