2 weeks Ago By Cynthia Yi
The standoff between Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Trump administration has escalated to the courtroom. Ellison has filed a lawsuit aiming to block two Trump executive actions that critics say target transgender rights, with Senator Scott Dibble of Minneapolis standing firmly by his side. Ellison is challenging the "Gender Ideology Order" and the "Sports Ban Order", as well as letters from the Department of Justice (DOJ) threatening to withhold federal funds from Minnesota schools unless they comply with the administration's policies.
In a statement released by Senate DFL, Senator Dibble praised Ellison for aiming to safeguard the most vulnerable. "The Trump administration has repeatedly singled out, attacked, and demonized trans people across the country in an effort to strip them of legal protections and dignity, efforts that are only hurting the wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of our community," Dibble said. He lauded Ellison as a "powerful champion for equality and justice", staunchly opposing the president's perceived illegal actions.
Ellison's lawsuit asserts four primary legal arguments. First, the lawsuit claims Trump's executive orders and DOJ letters illegally attempt to override Congressional powers, constituting a violation of the separation of powers outlined in the U.S.
Constitution. It also alleges that the actions lack authority under Title IX and essentially violate it by threatening to rescind funding to schools that allow transgender women and girls to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity. The suit further asserts that the administration's attempt to force Ellison to revise or rescind his February opinion violates the Tenth Amendment's anti-commandeering principle.
Lastly, it argues that the DOJ letters conflict with Title IX and base themselves on unauthorized executive orders, making them arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.Minnesota is seeking a court declaration that would render the two executive orders and DOJ letters unconstitutional and unenforceable. Ellison's move not only challenges the administration's stance on transgender rights but also puts forward a defense of state's rights amid a federal push to dictate policy on this sensitive issue.
"The Constitution does not authorize the Executive Branch to override Congress based on the President's policy preferences," Ellison's lawsuit reads, delineating the claimed overreach of executive power. The legal battle ahead is sure to be closely watched as it touches upon the contentious intersection of transgender rights, educational policy, and the limits of executive authority..
