The Department of Education said Thursday that the Trump administration is investigating potential civil rights violations at two universities and a high school sports league that allows transgender athletes to compete for women’s teams.

The institution will open comments at San Jose, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The comment comes the day after Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at banning trans athletes from participating in girls and women's sports. The order calls for penalties for schools and leagues and says competing with trans athletes makes female students equal.

The education department said the case was opened for suspected violations of IX, a 1972 law that prohibits gender discrimination in education. According to departmental policy, an investigation at the beginning does not mean findings that improper behavior is found. Additionally, the agency said it is reviewing sports policies for many other schools.

San Jose State University is investigating players' participation in the women's volleyball team. The player’s lawsuit against the mountain meeting argues that putting her competition poses a safety risk, but San Jose has not confirmed it has a transgender woman on the volleyball team.

The Pennsylvania survey focuses on Lia Thomas, who swims on the women's team and is the first openly trans athlete to win the I Division I title in 2022. Thomas graduated that year.

According to the Department of Education, the Massachusetts Interschool Athletic Association allows a transgender athlete to play on the girls’ high school basketball team, prompting an opposing team to confiscate after three players were injured. The ministry did not identify schools or provide further details.

Athletic associations typically do not receive federal funding from the education department, and it is unclear what authority the agency must exercise on the Massachusetts Coalition.

The Education Department has shifted its civil rights priorities as it aligns with Trump’s agenda to target anti-Semitism and gender identity issues. The investigation is also based on Trump’s campaign remarks that promise to end “trans insanity.”

"The last administration trampled on the rights of women and girls in America - neglecting the insults they received in the bathrooms and locker rooms to promote radical transgender ideology," said Craig Trainer, acting assistant secretary of civil rights of the department. .

Universities and associations did not immediately comment.

Advocates of trans students condemn the investigation.

Shiwali Patel, senior director of the School of Security and Inclusion at the National Women’s Law Center, said in a statement: “Using IX’s law enforcement process to discriminate against trans women and girls is Such a serious abuse of power is illegal. "The court affirms that trans women and girls have civil rights protection when participating in sports, and the movement ban against trans women hurts every woman or girl (including those that are cis-like) women) they are not suitable for gender-based stereotypes women or girls should look, play or act.

“The Trump administration is not targeting trans people, but focusing on promoting policies that actually benefit women and girls in sports.”

Title IX has been the center of a political tug of war in recent years. Under former President Joe Biden, new federal rules expand the law to protect LGBTQ+ students. A federal judge overturned Biden's rules this year, saying they were an overdo.

The Trump administration has been using the IX title to promote schools that provide accommodation for trans students. Last month, the education department conducted an investigation into Denver public schools after an all-gender restroom replaced the girl’s bathroom while leaving another unique to the boy.

Trump, following his order, directed federal agencies to “removal of all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair opportunities for sports.” The Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office can cut federal funds for institutions that violate civil rights, but only if the judge approves it if the office fails to negotiate a solution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.