Fox News Latest Headlines
Second Lady Usha Vance joins celebrity-filled crowd for Team USA's group-stage finale in LA
Team USA’s final group stage match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not have had any implications for either team, but patriotism was in full force for the home country as Second Lady Usha Vance was among the many prominent figures at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night.
As the U.S. national anthem rang across the stadium, with players and fans singing in unison, the FOX Sports broadcast showed Vance in a suite with a huge smile on her face as "The Star-Spangled Banner" ended.
Vance was present at the match just two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that President Donald Trump would present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at the final in New Jersey on July 19.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Vance was just the beginning of the stars that showed out in Inglewood, as Paris Hilton was seen presenting the match ball before kick-off. Then, cameras started to pick up the many high-profile faces throughout the crowd.
Among them were Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, a pair that many movie lovers know from their hit classic "Fight Club." Some social media users even hoped that the discussion they were seen having was about a sequel.
TOM CRUISE, DAVID BECKHAM, KATY PERRY AND MORE CELEBRITIES SPOTTED AT 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES
Also, movie star Ashton Kutcher was seen speaking with Los Angeles Rams standout wide receiver Puka Nacua, who knows the confines of SoFi Stadium (what it is called outside of FIFA play) very well.
Then, Colin Farrell, though Irish born, was rocking a replica Team USA jersey alongside his son in the stands to support the Stars and Stripes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Scottie Pippen and more were also seen in the seats.
There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the USMNT from everywhere, celebrity or not, throughout this tournament. The 4-2 win over Paraguay at the same Los Angeles stadium caused a frenzy in the stands, as the U.S. made a statement to begin the tournament on home soil for the first time since 1999.
USA WORLD CUP TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN KNOCKOUT STAGE AFTER ANOTHER HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS AUSTRALIA
Then, it was on to Seattle, where a 2-0 victory over Australia not only led to a spot in the knockout round, but led to a bellowing of the John Denver classic, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," from everyone in the stands. The USMNT saluted their fans after yet another successful match.
It was a much different look for the USMNT entering Thursday night's matchup against Türkiye, with nine changes to the starting XI after the team had already secured its place in the knockout stage. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1.
No matter who's on the pitch, some of the biggest names in the country are showing support for the team that has inspired tremendous national pride to kick off this tournament.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA scores second-fastest goal in team World Cup history in group-stage finale against Turkey
The U.S. men's national team wasted little time getting on the scoreboard once again.
Auston Trusty scored his first international goal just three minutes into Thursday night's match against Turkey, converting a corner kick to put the Americans ahead 1-0 at Los Angeles Stadium.
The goal was the second-fastest the United States has scored from the opening kickoff in World Cup history.
WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE
It also moved the United States one step closer to a perfect group-stage campaign. The Americans entered Thursday seeking a third straight victory after defeating Paraguay 4-1 and shutting out Australia 2-0 in their first two matches.
Christian Pulisic started the group-stage finale on the bench but was available as a substitute. The USMNT star has been dealing with a left calf injury since suffering a knock on June 10.
FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE
But the U.S. lead was short-lived. Arda Güler found the back of the net in the 10th minute before Orkun Kökçü struck in the 31st to put Turkey ahead 2-1 in the first half.
When: Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California.
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul tries to get Bills chant going at new stadium, completely fails
The Buffalo Bills, after years of playing home games at the old Highmark Stadium, officially cut the ribbon on their brand-new facility this week.
Several prominent figures spoke at the ceremony, including team owner Terry Pegula, and Mary Wilson, the wife of former owner Ralph Wilson. Oh, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, not exactly the most charismatic or popular politician in the sports world, took the opportunity to try and get the crowd hyped up, even attempting to lead a cheer.
It did not go well.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Hochul appeared in a Bills hat with team-colored clothing, taking the stage and starting off with a rowdy, "Alright, let's get this party started, let's go!" And got what sounded like a handful of clips in return.
BILLS LEGEND JIM KELLY REVEALS HE SUFFERED A STROKE THIS SPRING, SAYS HE FEELS 'REALLY GOOD' NOW
Apparently unable, or unwilling, to take the hint, she kept going, yelling, "Buffalo, let's go!" and attempting to start a call-and-response chant. She even pointed to different sections of the arena, hoping to coax fans into joining in. They didn't.
Clearly frustrated by the complete silence, Hochul addressed the crowd directly: "Alright, seriously? You want to win a championship season with that kind of enthusiasm? Men and women of labor, you know what I'm talking about," before trying to start another chant.
And got nothing in response, again. "We gotta give this place some good karma, right?" she then said, referring to the new $2.1 billion stadium. As if Kathy Hochul is the politician everyone thinks of when they want to bring "good karma" to a new facility.
The Bills will open the 60,000-seat facility with a "Return of the Blue & Red" training camp practice on Aug. 8. The stadium is 99.75% complete, according to Bills Senior Vice President of Design and Stadium Operations Frank Cravotta.
Stadium architects Populous designed the building with underground heating coils to allow the natural grass to avoid freezing, along with lights specifically designed for growing grass. There's also a snow-melt system, and a canopy that blocks wind to keep fans more comfortable during the brutal Buffalo winters.
Sounds like a pretty fantastic facility. As long as Kathy Hochul isn't there to ruin it.
Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Following a catastrophic set of earthquakes that left at least 235 people dead in Venezuela, the Trump administration has activated a government-wide humanitarian response, pledging $150 million in aid and deploying U.S. Navy warships to assist in life-saving rescue operations.
The rapid mobilization Thursday comes after back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela roughly 120 miles west of Caracas Wednesday night.
The rare earthquake "doublet" injured more than 940 people and turned the state of La Guaira into a disaster zone, while forcing the closure of the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, according to Venezuela’s Health Ministry.
US RESCUE TEAMS TO DESCEND ON HARD-HIT CARIBBEAN AFTER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE MELISSA'S IMPACT
The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday it is mobilizing $150 million in aid, which includes $50 million in new bilateral awards for relief partners on the ground — such as Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision — along with a $100 million contribution to a United Nations humanitarian pooled fund.
To spearhead efforts on the ground, the State Department has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team alongside two highly specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from fire departments in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California.
U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it is surging assigned U.S. military forces to the region, directing the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings to Venezuela to back the State Department-led operations.
The USS Fort Lauderdale will serve as a "floating command center" with a flight deck to support heavy-lift helicopters and a well deck to launch landing craft, according to SOUTHCOM.
Meanwhile, the agile USS Billings will provide critical support close to the shorelines to accelerate the disaster response missions.
SOUTHCOM said it is also sending rotary-wing aircraft, which will provide critical life-saving airlift support, transporting U.S. government response personnel, search and rescue teams and partners during relief operations.
Amid the crisis, the State Department emphasized that the safety of U.S. citizens remains the administration's highest priority.
"The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in the affected areas," officials wrote in a statement. "The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to helping Venezuela recover from this devastating disaster and will continue to explore additional ways to provide meaningful assistance during this critical time."
U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and can contact the State Department 24/7 at 202-501-4444 for emergency assistance.
Family members in the U.S. seeking information on loved ones can call toll-free at 888-407-4747.
Florida executes 74-year-old for wife's murder, becoming oldest inmate put to death in state's modern history
A 74-year-old Florida man was executed on Thursday for his conviction in the 1992 fatal stabbing of his wife, making him the oldest inmate in modern state history to be put to death.
Dusty Ray Spencer was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m., after officials executed him using a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.
"Sorry, sorry to the family. Into thy hands I commit my spirit and my soul. I’m on my way, Lord. I’m on my way. Amen," Spencer said when asked if he had any final words.
After a few minutes of labored breathing, he ceased all movements. The warden then shook Spencer and shouted his name several times without a response. He was checked by a medic and pronounced dead.
FLORIDA BREAKS 50-YEAR EXECUTION RECORD WITH NINTH DEATH SENTENCE CARRIED OUT THIS YEAR
Spencer was convicted in November 1992 of the first-degree murder of his wife, Karen Spencer. Her family did not release a statement following his execution.
According to Florida Department of Correction records dating back to 1924, the oldest inmates previously executed by the state were both 72 — Samuel Lee Smithers on Oct. 14, 2025, for the 1996 killings of two women, and R. Charlie Gifford on Feb. 21, 1951, for the 1950 shooting death of state Rep. Charles Schuh Jr.
Another 74-year-old Florida inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled to be executed on July 14 for his conviction in the killing of a woman just hours after midnight on New Year's Day in 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party.
The oldest person executed in modern times in the U.S. was Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, who was put to death in Alabama in 2018, for sending mail bombs during a wave of Southern terror, killing a federal judge and a Black civil rights attorney.
Spencer's execution was the ninth in Florida so far this year.
FLORIDA MAN WHO WRESTLED COP'S GUN AWAY AND KILLED HIM TO BE EXECUTED AFTER FINAL APPEALS REJECTED
In 2025, 19 people were put to death in Florida, setting a record for the most executions in one year in the Sunshine State. Before last year, Florida's record for executions in a year since the death penalty was restored in 1976 was eight in 1984 and 2014.
Florida also executed more people last year than any other state, with Alabama, Texas and South Carolina tied for the second-most with five each. Across the U.S., 47 people were executed in 2025.
Spencer was arrested after choking and threatening to kill his wife, Karen, in December 1991. As he was sitting in jail, he called his wife and warned her that he would finish what he started when he was released.
On Jan. 18, 1992, Spencer beat his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron when the teen attempted to stop Spencer from attacking his mother, according to officials.
About a week later, the boy went to check out a commotion outside their home and saw Spencer hitting his mother in the head with a brick.
The teen attempted to shoot Spencer with a rifle, but the gun misfired. Spencer threatened the boy with a knife, and the boy ran away to search for help. When police arrived, Spencer's wife was found dead with several stab wounds to the chest.
Spencer was initially sentenced to death in 1992, after he was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
Two years later, the Florida Supreme Court ordered his new sentencing after finding that the trial court had mishandled evaluating aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Spencer was resentenced to death the following year, and subsequent appeals were denied.
Last week, the state Supreme Court rejected Spencer’s appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal earlier on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FIFA faces pressure to discipline 2026 World Cup co-host Mexico after anti-gay chant returns vs Czechia
An anti-gay slur that has been chanted by Mexico fans could lead to discipline from FIFA for the squad of one of the host countries in the 2026 World Cup.
There were at least three instances during Mexico’s 3-0 victory over Czechia on Wednesday night where the anti-gay slur was chanted by fans.
This specific chant has caused stoppages in play during past matches, and has even led to fines for Mexico. However, officials allowed play to continue despite it being heard throughout the crowd.
WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE
The chant is directed at the opposing goalkeeper, and though FIFA has tried to get the fans to stop, it made its return on Wednesday night.
Now, it’s up to FIFA to try to potentially discipline Mexico again amid a solid start to its tournament.
FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE
During the 2018 World Cup, FIFA showed it would discipline a country for its fans’ actions. It was Mexico they made an example of, as fans performed the same chant during a victory over Germany. The team was eventually fined by FIFA for the chant.
The discipline worked, at least in the short term. In Mexico’s next match against South Korea that year, the chant wasn’t used. However, during the 2019 Gold Cup, the chant returned, and fans were urged to stop.
CONCACAF stepped in, releasing a statement that called the chant "offensive," but it returned during the team’s match against the United States. Mexico ended up winning the Gold Cup that year, but FIFA moved quickly to update its disciplinary code, where officials now had a three-step procedure to respond to "discriminatory incidents."
That procedure started with stopping play until chants stopped, and if that didn’t help, the game would be suspended. Then, if it reaches level three, the match would be abandoned altogether.
The Mexican Football Federation also tried stopping the chants themselves. In 2021, the football organization posted two videos, one calling the chant "discriminatory," while the other showed prominent Mexican players telling fans not to use the chant moving forward. The messages also threatened ejection for those who start, or engage, in the chant.
Despite all the attempts, it’s clear Mexico’s fan base doesn’t want to listen. So, the ball is in FIFA’s court once again to see if it will discipline the team.
The Mexican Football Federation was previously fined $65,000 by FIFA, while the team was forced to play two World Cup qualifier matches in an empty stadium.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Carville disavows Mamdani-backed candidate, tells her to start her own party
Democratic socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier won a shocking primary victory in New York, but veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is not celebrating.
The socialist backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who won Tuesday night’s primary election in New York’s 13th Congressional District, has made a career out of "community organizing," and has a history of controversies, including having founded a group in college that called for the "total eradication of Western civilization."
NewsNation interviewed Carville on Thursday for his response to multiple far-left candidates winning in New York. While he downplayed some of the panic as essentially being about three seats in New York, he nonetheless argued Avila Chevalier should not be associated with the Democratic Party.
"Two of ‘em I don’t think are even Democrats. This Chevalier lady, I don’t – they should not seat her in the caucus. Her views are totally against anything that any Democrats have. We believe in pluralism, she doesn't believe in interracial dating," he said. "I don't think there's a place in the party. I'm not, by the way, I’m not sure she wants to be a Democrat. Go do something else! Form your own party!"
LIBERAL MS NOW WRITER CALLS MAMDANI PRIMARY SWEEP A ‘GENUINELY SCARY NIGHT FOR NEW YORK CITY JEWS’
NewsNation host Elizabeth Vargas noted that Avila Chevalier has called to abolish ICE and the police, stop all deportations, called veterans war criminals, and various other issues, asking, "Who is this person?"
"She is not a Democrat, okay?" Carville said. "That is pretty clear, and frankly, I think a lot of Democrats feel like I do. I don't have any power, just an old washed-up consultant, but I wouldn’t seat her! This is not who we are! And we should just say, look, you’re duly elected, have your seat in Congress, but you would not be getting any committee assignments when the Democrats got the majority."
He noted another commentator had observed that many politicians that hate the Democrats nonetheless run as part of their party.
"Why do you want to run as a Democrat?" he responded. "Start your own movement! If it’s such a powerful, sweeping movement that’s got more momentum everywhere, then go ahead, be at the head of it, don’t use the Democratic Party to advance it. We don’t have any interest in it."
Vargas went on to note that there is a rising tide of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment within the Democratic Party, asking Carville whether he agrees with Rep. Dan Goldman that this development represents a hazard to democracy itself.
"It's disgusting, OK? And you've got to be careful not to conflate two things," he warned. "You can be hugely ‘anti-’ the policies of the government of Israel, which I would describe myself as one, but when you say 'I don’t think Israel should exist,’ then I don’t have room for ya."
"I have all the room in the world to criticize Israeli policies, to criticize the settlements — which I think are stupid and ignorant to start with, and they continue to be. You can criticize whether they reacted strategically to October the 7. That's all fine. That's all fine," he said.
Where he draws the line, he said, is when a person is against the concept of Israel’s existence or is against Jewish people themselves as a group.
"You've got no place at my table, I can tell you that," he said of such people. "But I think the smart political move is not to seat these people."
When pressed on whether many left-wing people are representatives of the modern Democratic Party, Carville argued again that while they have the right to speak their mind, they should not identify themselves as Democrats.
"Just don’t invoke the name of the Democratic Party in doing that, because you’re really hurting the United States in the end," he said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Vargas juxtaposed Carville mentioning the more establishment Democratic agenda, as opposed to the far-left sentiments of "abolish everything and, you know, ‘free Palestine.’"
"Insane," Carville said of those who espouse those ideals. "I’ve got no time for these people."
Fox News Digital reached out to Avila Chevalier's office and did not receive an immediate reply.
French citizen who illegally cast ballot in 2022 midterms says New Jersey automatically registered him to vote
FIRST ON FOX: Attorneys representing a French national who recently admitted to illegally casting a ballot in the 2022 federal midterm elections told Fox News Digital that he thought he was allowed to vote because he was automatically registered when he received his New Jersey driver’s license.
Eliezer Kadoch, 39, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to voting by an alien in a federal election before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Brandon Day in Trenton federal court, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.
Though Kadoch is a citizen of France and has never held U.S. citizenship, he illegally voted on Nov. 8, 2022, during an election that was held in part to elect members of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to court documents.
Attorney Yosef Jacobovitch, who is representing Kadoch, told Fox News Digital that when his client cast the ballot, he "mistakenly believed" he was legally permitted to vote because he had been automatically registered when he obtained his New Jersey driver’s license.
"Mr. Kadoch accepted responsibility for his actions," Jacobovitch said. "... There was never any intent to violate the law or cast an unlawful ballot. Unfortunately, the offense to which he pleaded guilty does not require proof of criminal intent, and he now fully understands that."
Kadoch now faces up to six months in federal prison and a $100,000 fine, according to officials. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26.
SUPREME COURT HANDS TRUMP TWO MAJOR IMMIGRATION VICTORIES
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) reported that issuing driver's licenses to noncitizens, combined with automatic voter registration, can result in them being added to voter rolls.
In recent years, the nonprofit said numerous states — including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia — investigated the issue and identified noncitizens on their voter rolls.
Model legislation drafted by AFPI suggested solutions including requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and implementing audit requirements to ensure that noncitizens are not on the voter rolls.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer noted the case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners dedicated to preserving and protecting the integrity of elections in New Jersey.
The investigation was a joint effort involving special agents from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Kadoch's immigration status was not publicly released.
The New Jersey Department of State, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Ocean County Clerk's Office and AFPI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Jury deadlocks in federal trial of man accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles
Jurors in the federal trial of a man accused of starting the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in California told a judge on Thursday that the panel was deadlocked — shortly after previously stating they had reached a verdict.
The announcement came on the second day of deliberations in the trial against Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, following a 10-day federal trial over the blaze. The conflagration stands as the most destructive in Los Angeles County's history and claimed at least a dozen lives.
A note sent by the jury foreman to the judge initially stated that the panel had reached a verdict. However, a second note sent just minutes later claimed the opposite.
"We have people on both sides that are dead-set. Unwavering. We are at a standstill. We are unsure how to proceed," the note read.
DANIEL PENNY JURORS TELL JUDGE THEY CAN'T AGREE ON TOP CHARGE IN SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD CASE
In response, the judge asked the jury what the court could do to assist them.
"For example, would an additional instruction or the re-reading of any testimony help the jury in their deliberations?" the judge asked.
"There is nothing the court can do to assist the jury in their deliberations. Additional instructions or rereading the testimony would not help in deliberations. Unfortunately, we cannot reach a unanimous verdict," the jury replied.
HARVEY WEINSTEIN RAPE TRIAL ENDS IN MISTRIAL AFTER JURY DEADLOCKED
Both the prosecution and defense agreed they needed more time to research legal options after the jury's latest update. The judge eventually instructed the jurors to return and resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Friday.
A deadlocked jury could ultimately result in the judge declaring a mistrial. Federal prosecutors would then have to decide whether to re-try Rinderknecht, who is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. He has pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors maintain that Rinderknecht was driven by anger, loneliness, and a thirst for revenge against the wealthy when he allegedly started what would become the Palisades Fire.
The fire originally started shortly after midnight on Jan. 1, 2025, in a remote, brush-heavy area in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. That initial blaze was dubbed the Lachman Fire.
Firefighters responded to the scene on New Year's Day and believed they had successfully extinguished the blaze. However, investigators later determined that the fire never fully went out and instead continued to smolder underground.
On Jan. 7, 2025, powerful Santa Ana winds fanned the underground embers and caused the fire to resurface above ground. Driven by the strong winds and severe drought, the blaze exploded into the Palisades Fire, eventually burning over 23,000 acres and destroying roughly 6,800 structures, many of them homes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danbee Kim told jurors during closing arguments on Tuesday that the affluent Palisades area represented a wealth disparity across the country to Rinderknecht, noting that the defendant "had a deeply entrenched belief that the wealthy were destroying the world."
Defense attorney Steven Haney argued that no physical evidence linked Rinderknecht to the destruction and contended that the Lachman and Palisades fires were entirely separate events that had nothing to do with his client, FOX Los Angeles reported.
Virginia school district sued over alleged policy of keeping students' gender transitions hidden from parents
America First Legal filed a federal lawsuit Monday accusing Fairfax County Public Schools of violating parents' constitutional rights through a policy that allegedly allows school staff to withhold information about a student's gender transition from their parents.
The lawsuit alleges that Fairfax County Public Schools' Regulation 2603.3 "directs school staff to support and facilitate a student’s social ‘gender transition’ at school without notifying parents or obtaining their consent."
It also alleges that FCPS mandates that school staff use a student’s preferred pronouns and name, ability to use sex-segregated facilities based on a student’s self-identified "gender identity," and "participation in gendered classes, activities, and programs based on a student’s self-identified ‘gender identity.’"
LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS NOT 'SATISFIED' AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON TRANSGENDER POLICIES
It further alleges that FCPS does not make parents aware of students who are struggling with gender confusion, and does not give parents the ability to reject school-sponsored "support plans."
The lawsuit argues that these policies infringe on the U.S. and Virginia constitutions, which protect parents' right to direct their children's upbringing, education, and religious development, as well as argues that school employees overstep their authority by facilitating a student's gender transition without parental knowledge or consent.
The lawsuit came after America First Legal’s May 1 demand letter, which referenced the alleged infractions and directed FCPS to completely remove the policies, or immediately stop their enforcement during revision, or make a parental notice and exemption mechanism by May 18.
LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS NOT 'SATISFIED' AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON TRANSGENDER POLICIES
"FCPS was given an opportunity to correct its anti-parent policies," Ian Prior, senior counsel at America First Legal, said in a statement. "It failed to do so and will now face the consequences. AFL will continue defending parental rights from woke school districts until each and every one complies with the law."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for America First Legal wrote, "Last week, America First Legal secured its second circuit-level victory grounded in the Supreme Court’s decision in Mirabelli v. Bonta when the Ninth Circuit entered a preliminary injunction in City of Huntington Beach v. Newsom, a lawsuit AFL filed on behalf of the City of Huntington Beach and California parents. The Ninth Circuit blocked enforcement of key provisions of California’s AB 1955 — a law that prohibits schools from disclosing information to parents about a child’s sexual orientation, 'gender identity,' or gender expression, unless the child consents."
"Previously, in Doe v. Pine Richland School District, the Third Circuit reversed the district court’s dismissal of AFL’s client’s claims, ruling that the mother had Article III standing to pursue her constitutional claims against a Pennsylvania school district that secretly provided 'gender transition teams; to students without parental notification or consent," the spokesperson added. "AFL has now secured victories in two federal circuits reinforcing parents' fundamental constitutional right to be informed about critical decisions in their children’s lives."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for FCPS said, "At FCPS, every student and staff member deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all members of our school community, including our transgender and gender-expansive students and staff."
The spokesperson added, "By working together with families, we strive to ensure every FCPS student feels a sense of belonging and has access to the world-class education we provide. FCPS continues to follow all state and federal laws and will respond through the appropriate legal process after completing its review of the complaint."
SCHOOL DISTRICT’S TRANS POLICY BLASTED FOR FOSTERING 'DECEPTION’ UNDER SHADOW OF SCOTUS RULING