Trump Bans Transgender Athletes In Women’s Sports
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, seeking to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Trump stated, “With this executive order the war on women’s sports is over,” at the White House signing ceremony, which was attended by children, female athletes, and top Republicans including US House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Marjorie Green.
Federal Funding: The order empowers government agencies to deny federal funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams. It states the policy of the United States is to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy”.
Title IX Enforcement: The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” gives federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX, interpreting “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.
Olympics: Trump said he would push the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He also stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been directed to discuss the matter with the IOC. Additionally, Trump said he had ordered homeland security chief Kristi Noem to deny visas to individuals who, according to him, falsely identify as women athletes to enter the US for the Games.
Trump’s justification for the order is that it will defend the “proud tradition of female athletes” and prevent “men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls”. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the order “upholds the promise of Title IX” and will mandate “immediate action, including enforcement actions” against schools and athletic associations that do not provide single-sex sports and locker rooms for women.
The order was issued on National Girls and Women in Sports Day and is the latest in a series of executive actions by the Republican president focusing on transgender issues.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 that aims to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Trump stated the order would end the “war on women’s sports,” asserting that his administration would protect female athletes from being beaten, injured, or cheated by men.
Withholding Funds The order allows government agencies to deny federal funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams.
Title IX The executive order aims to ensure that entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Trump said he would push the IOC to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Visa Restrictions The order also directs the Department of Homeland Security to review policies regarding the admission of individuals seeking to participate in women’s sports in the U.S.
Supporters Supporters say the order will restore fairness in women’s sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker welcomed the executive order for providing a clear national standard.
Opponents Critics say the order infringes on the rights of a minority of athletes. LGBT advocacy organization, Athlete Ally, expressed disappointment that transgender youth would no longer have the opportunity to participate in sports as their true selves.
