Senate confirms Cardon as education secretary after GOP presses him on transgender athletics

U.S. senators continue to hold hearings this week to consider President Joe Biden’s nominees for various high-ranking positions within his administration.

One vote of particular interest led to the confirmation on Monday of Dr. Miguel Cardon to serve as education secretary.

“Forced to allow boys to compete in girls’ sports”

As Fox News reported, the Senate voted by a margin of 64-33 to approve Cardon, who formerly served as Connecticut’s education commissioner. He was previously a public school educator and administrator.

While he easily passed the majority threshold to be confirmed, Cardon fielded widespread questioning regarding the Biden administration’s education policies — including those related to transgender athletes.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), for example, wanted to know how he would handle the issue of transgender female athletes playing on the same teams as those born as females.

“The Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to Connecticut saying boys can compete with girls in girls’ sports or [the state] should be forced to allow boys to compete in girls’ sports,” Paul said. “If you are confirmed, will you enforce that Office of Civil Rights Opinion?”

The nominee acknowledged that “there are a lot of concerns about that,” adding that if he were confirmed, it would be his “responsibility” and “privilege to make sure we’re following the civil rights of all students, and that includes activities they may engage in high school or athletics.”

“That’s bizarre, not very fair”

Paul, however, appeared unsatisfied with the response, going on to emphasize the biological differences between biologically male and female individuals.

The senator referenced the potential that girls could miss out on college scholarship opportunities if forced to face off against competitors born male.

“A lot of us think that’s bizarre, not very fair,” Paul added. “I come from a family that has a lot of girls who have competed in college athletics, who have been state champions.”

Paul said that it “doesn’t sound very fair” for a transgender male to compete against his niece, asserting that he believes “most people think it’s bizarre.”

For his part, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), who participated in the hearing remotely, referenced the family photos in his own office, stating: “I’ve got pictures of my eight granddaughters, amongst some grandsons, behind me. They shouldn’t be competing with people who are physiologically in an entirely different category.”

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