Former President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order restricting transgender women from competing in female sports divisions.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order barring transgender women from competing in female sports divisions.
The directive outlines regulations and legal interpretations while tasking the Department of Education with investigating high schools suspected of non-compliance.
Supporters of the order, particularly within the Republican party, argue that it upholds fairness in women's sports.
However, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and human rights organizations have condemned the decision as discriminatory.
Effective immediately, the order primarily applies to high school, college, and grassroots sports.
Several major sports governing bodies, including those overseeing athletics, swimming, and golf, have already implemented similar restrictions at the elite level for transgender women who have undergone male puberty.
According to White House officials, the executive order grants the Department of Education authority to examine how schools enforce Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs that receive government funding.
An administration representative stated that the order reverses policies established under President Joe Biden, which in 2023 affirmed federal protections for LGBTQ+ students but did not provide clear guidance on transgender participation in sports.
“If men are allowed to take over women’s sports or enter female locker rooms, schools will face federal investigations and risk losing funding,” Trump stated.
The White House also announced plans to engage with sports organizations, such as the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), by inviting female athletes and their families to discuss concerns.
Additionally, officials said that efforts would be made to prevent transgender athletes from competing in International Olympic Committee-sanctioned events held in the U.S., including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
According to White House representatives, the policy has broad public support and is intended to safeguard competitive integrity and athlete safety in women's sports.
In response, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson criticized the order, arguing that it could lead to increased harassment and discrimination against young athletes whose appearance or gender identity does not conform to traditional norms.
“For many students, sports provide a sense of belonging,” Robinson said. “These policies prioritize partisan agendas over the well-being of young athletes.”
Research from the UCLA Williams Institute estimates that fewer than 1% of Americans aged 13 and older identify as transgender, with an even smaller number participating in organized sports.
On his first day back in office, January 20, Trump signed a separate order mandating that federal agencies define sex strictly as male or female.
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