The U.S. DOE’s form to the register rescinds several regulations regarding construction, homeland security, national park service, energy use, agriculture, and more; however, in the middle it states: “This DFR amends existing regulations requiring certain funding recipients that sponsor sports teams for members of one sex to allow members of the opposite sex to try out for the team. Accordingly, these requirements will no longer be a factor when recipients operate teams.” While the summary addresses specifically “sports teams,” there is no written acknowledgment that this rollback will also be affecting educational programs, such as women in STEM programs. 

Zonta International has a long history of supporting women in educational and professional fields typically dominated by men, especially science and technology. Zonta International’s vision states: “women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men,” and with this comes all equal opportunities within education. This direct final rule would be a rollback of Title IX regulations which were originally created to ensure schools help overcome the effects of discrimination that have long prevented women and girls from pursuing certain fields of study or careers. 

All students benefit from diverse learning environments, but despite some progress toward gender equity, women—and particularly women of color—continue to be underrepresented in certain fields of study, like STEM. Gender-conscious programs help overcome the effects of discrimination that have prevented women and girls from pursuing certain careers. Schools can and should create policies to increase girls’ participation in fields where they continue to be underrepresented, including by offering programs, scholarships, and other services to expand women and girls’ participation. 

According to the American Association of University Women, on June 16, 2025 the Department of Energy received over 9,000 “adverse comments” which will need to be reviewed and incorporated into a subsequent direct final rule or publish a notice of proposed rulemaking. 

As a constituent of Zonta International and advocate for women and children, please consider using our pre-drafted letters to urge your local representatives to draw their attention to the misuse of the direct final rule process and the deeming of the removal of this protection as “noncontroversial.” The Department of Energy needs to re-evaluate their processes for such extreme measures to be taken against Title IX.