2025-22323: Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Get alerted when the next rule lands
New rules open for comment on their own schedule. Pick how you want to hear about them — we email you when one appears.
Publishing to members? Embed a live rule tracker on your own site — the proposed rules in your area and the comment deadlines closing on them, updating themselves. Free, one line of HTML.
Create a free account & build one →Summary
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is further extending the effective date of the direct final rule "Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," published on May 16, 2025.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
The rule, in full
535 words as published, December 09, 2025. View the original →
Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 234 (Tuesday, December 9, 2025) [Federal Register Volume 90, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 9, 2025)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 56968-56969] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2025-22323] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Part 1042 [DOE-HQ-2025-0025] RIN 1903-AA22 Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Agency
Office of Civil Rights and EEO, Department of Energy.
Action
Direct final rule; further delay of effective date. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is further extending the effective date of the direct final rule ``Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,'' published on May 16, 2025.
Dates
As of December 9, 2025, the effective date of the direct final rule published May 16, 2025, at 90 FR 20788, delayed until September 12, 2025 (90 FR 31141), further delayed until December 9, 2025 (90 FR 43540, 90 FR 45317), is further delayed until March 9, 2026.
For Further Information Contact
Mr. Jeffrey Novak, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-1, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-5281 or [email protected].
Supplementary Information
On May 16, 2025, DOE published a direct final rule. 90 FR 20788. DOE stated in that direct final rule that if significant adverse comments were received by June 16, 2025, DOE would withdraw the direct final rule. Id. On July 14, 2025, DOE published a document delaying the effective date to consider comments submitted in response to the direct final rule. 90 FR 31141. In this document, due to delays related to the lapse in appropriations, DOE is further extending the effective date in order to follow the Department of Justice direction on the topic of the direct final rule under Executive Order 14281, ``Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy'' and Executive Order 12250, ``Leadership and Coordination of Nondiscrimination Laws.'' 90 FR 17537 (April 28, 2025); 45 FR 72995 (Nov. 4, 1980). To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553 applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A) and for which no notice or hearing is required by statute. Additionally, this action is not a ``substantive rule'' for which a 30-day delay in effective date is required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d). Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December 4, 2025, by Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of [[Page 56969]] Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register. Signed in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2025-22323 Filed 12-8-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
What this changes
Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.
Rulemaking docket
-
Rule May 16, 2025Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule July 14, 2025Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule September 10, 2025Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule September 22, 2025Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule December 09, 2025Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule March 06, 2026Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
-
Rule July 01, 2026Rescinding Regulations Related to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Public comments
What people are saying
-
Christine Elgin 2025-09-18
“This rule change removes critical affirmative action protections that allow schools to have gender-conscious college and university programs or after-school programs to provide women and girls opportunities they have historically been denied, such as in STEM fields and technical training. All students benefit from diverse learning environments, but women–and particularly women of color–are underrepresented in higher education and in male-dominated fields, such as STEM and the skilled trades. All schools, not just those engaging in unlawful discrimination, should take steps to improve girls'...”
820 more characters
-
Elizabeth Grimes 2025-09-18
“This rule change removes critical affirmative action protections that allow schools to have gender-conscious college and university programs or after-school programs to provide women and girls opportunities they have historically been denied, such as in STEM fields and technical training. All students benefit from diverse learning environments, but women–and particularly women of color–are underrepresented in higher education and in male-dominated fields, such as STEM and the skilled trades. All schools, not just those engaging in unlawful discrimination, should take steps to improve girls'...”
820 more characters
-
Nancy Gordon 2025-09-18
“To DOE: This rule change removes critical affirmative action protections that allow schools to have gender-conscious college and university programs or after-school programs to provide women and girls opportunities they have historically been denied, such as in STEM fields and technical training. All students benefit from diverse learning environments, but women–and particularly women of color–are underrepresented in higher education and in male-dominated fields, such as STEM and the skilled trades. All schools, not just those engaging in unlawful discrimination, should take steps to improv...”
873 more characters
-
Anonymous Anonymous 2025-09-18
“I am submitting significant adverse comments opposing the four Department of Energy (DOE) Direct Final Rules (DFRs). I am requesting that DOE withdraw all four DFRs because they are unlawful and the proposed changes will significantly curtail substantive civil rights protections and undermine the spirit and purpose of Title VI (race), Section 504 (disability) and Title IX (sex). My concerns are as follows: ·The DOE’s DFRs are both procedurally deficient and substantively bad law. They cannot make these major changes without going through proper notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures. ·The...”
883 more characters
-
Willie Sordillo 2025-09-18
“I am submitting significant adverse comments opposing the four Department of Energy (DOE) Direct Final Rules (DFRs). I am requesting that DOE withdraw all four DFRs because they are unlawful and the proposed changes will significantly curtail substantive civil rights protections and undermine the spirit and purpose of Title VI (race), Section 504 (disability) and Title IX (sex). My concerns are as follows: ·The DOE’s DFRs are both procedurally deficient and substantively bad law. They cannot make these major changes without going through proper notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures. ·The...”
883 more characters
Read all comments on Regulations.gov →
Comment volume from Regulations.gov; the comment-submission API was retired in 2025, so comments are filed on Regulations.gov directly.
Documents
- Full text (Federal Register) · December 09, 2025
Don't miss the comment window
One Click Politics alerts you on every deadline, hearing, and rule change.
See all rules with comments due soon →