President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” on Wednesday, aiming to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The order gives federal agencies the power to ensure compliance with Title IX, defining “sex” as the gender assigned at birth. At a signing ceremony, Trump declared the “war on women’s sports is over,” supported by female athletes and lawmakers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the order upholds Title IX and requires immediate action against entities that deny women single-sex sports.
The order coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day and reflects Trump’s previous stance on transgender issues before the election. It authorizes penalties for schools that allow transgender athletes to compete against Title IX, potentially risking federal funding in case of violations. The Education Department is set to prioritize enforcement of the order.
Trump also issued a warning to the International Olympic Committee regarding transgender participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics. The order was met with criticism from trans-rights advocates including GLAAD and the National Women’s Law Center. Legal challenges have been initiated against previous policies targeting transgender individuals, and more are expected due to potential violations of congressional laws and constitutional protections.
NCAA President Charlie Baker is reviewing the order and plans to align NCAA policies accordingly. The order comes just after a lawsuit was filed against the NCAA, Ivy League, Harvard, and Penn by former teammates of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, alleging a conspiracy that violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete. The lawsuit is similar to previous complaints filed by other athletes.
In a move targeting transgender athletes, the latest executive order from the Trump administration continues the debate over gender inclusion in sports and faces potential legal challenges.
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