Students ask about federal review of trans-athlete policy; Sanders warns of federal overreach

A junior at Champlain Valley Union High School asked Sen. Bernie Sanders about a federal Office for Civil Rights inquiry into the handling of transgender athletes and whether schools can protect their funding and student safety.

Sen. Bernie Sanders said schools are primarily run by local communities and that federal action that conditions grants risks undermining local authority. "He's using the funding mechanism to try to exert his particular political views," Sanders said, referring to federal pressure on school policies. He added that Vermont’s congressional delegation — "Sen. Welch and Congresswoman Becca Balint and I" — were working to defend Vermont values of tolerance and to prevent unconstitutional withholding of funds.

The student sought practical steps students and communities could take; Sanders emphasized advocacy through the delegation and local organizing. He said his office and colleagues were "doing everything that we can to try to fight for what we would consider to be Vermont values of tolerance, respect for each other and to stop this president from overreaching."

The exchange underscored tensions between federal civil-rights enforcement and school-district discretion; no formal legal action or vote occurred during the town hall.