Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports

“War on women’s sports is over,” says Trump at signing ceremony

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring transgender girls and women from competing in female sports at federally funded schools, citing his administration’s interpretation of Title IX, a law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education.

Trump declares end to “war on women’s sports”

At the signing ceremony, Trump, surrounded by 100 female athletes and supporters, declared:

“The war on women’s sports is over. My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”

The order instructs the Department of Justice to ensure all federal agencies enforce the ban on transgender women and girls in female sports, with schools that violate the rule facing potential loss of federal funding.

NCAA and public reactions

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) welcomed the order, calling it a necessary national standard amid a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court rulings. The NCAA confirmed that it would revise its policy to align with the directive, pending further government guidance.

Currently, the NCAA requires transgender women athletes to meet testosterone limits specific to each sport, a rule that may now be restructured under Trump’s mandate.

Trump has actively campaigned on the issue, drawing strong voter support for his stance against transgender participation in women’s sports. He aired television ads opposing transgender inclusion and mentioned the ban in campaign rallies, where it was met with applause.

Legal challenges and federal court rulings

The executive order is expected to face legal challenges, as federal courts have generally supported the rights of transgender athletes.

• The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals previously blocked Idaho’s transgender sports ban, along with similar rulings in West Virginia and Arizona.
• A New Hampshire federal judge halted the state’s ban for two plaintiffs.
• However, in January 2024, a Kentucky federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX, which aimed to protect transgender individuals from sex-based discrimination.

White House and administration’s stance

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, stating:

“This order honors the promise of Title IX and will prompt immediate enforcement actions against schools and athletic organizations that deny women access to single-sex sports and locker rooms.”

The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” grants federal agencies broad authority to enforce Title IX strictly by biological sex assigned at birth.

Impact on International Sports and 2028 Olympics

Trump also warned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to inform the IOC that:

“America categorically rejects transgender lunacy. We want them to change everything related to the Olympics concerning this absolutely ridiculous issue.”

A key campaign issue for Trump

During his re-election campaign, Trump focused heavily on transgender issues, with polls showing that a majority of Americans oppose transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

A survey by AP VoteCast found that more than half of respondents believed that support for transgender rights had gone too far, making the issue a key campaign strategy for Trump.

Future of Trump’s policy on transgender athletes

With 25 Republican-led states already enacting transgender sports bans, Trump’s order strengthens nationwide enforcement, setting the stage for legal battles over the interpretation of Title IX and sex-based rights in athletics.

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