Trump Ready to Sign Directive Prohibiting Men from Competing in Women’s Sports
Schools that do not adhere to compliance standards will undergo investigations by the U.S. Department of Education and may risk losing federal funding.
President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday aimed at prohibiting men from participating in women’s sports.
The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” seeks to reinforce federal Title IX regulations—established in 1972 to provide equitable opportunities in women’s athletic programs.
This initiative aims to eliminate what are described as “dangerous and unfair” circumstances where males compete in female categories within school and amateur sports, as stated by a White House official.
The new regulations are designed to “protect the rights and dignity of women, as well as create opportunities for young girls.”
Trump is insisting on the provision of equal opportunities for women concerning safety, fairness, and privacy. His order highlights the advantages of athletics for young girls, such as increased self-esteem and reduced rates of drug use, obesity, and teenage pregnancy.
Schools that do not comply will be subject to investigations by the U.S. Department of Education and could lose federal funding, as pointed out in the new executive order.
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According to the White House, Denver East High School is under scrutiny for its recent decisions to convert some women’s restrooms into coed facilities.
Title IX funding is contingent on a school’s resolve to prevent sex-based discrimination, among other factors.
The Trump administration claims it is collaborating with various sporting organizations to identify strategies for ensuring the protection of women’s rights.
Officials are urging the National Collegiate Athletics Association to reevaluate its policies. The order notes that over 7,000 female collegiate athletes have expressed their demand for the removal of male athletes from women’s competitions.
A meeting of state attorneys general is scheduled at the White House soon to deliberate on how state laws regarding this matter can be enforced, according to the official.
Schools and universities permitting men who identify as women to participate in female athletic events may face lawsuits from female students claiming adverse effects, the official remarked.
The White House pointed out that nearly 900 medals in women’s sports have been awarded to male competitors recently, noting that this has deprived girls of scholarships and significant emotional and psychological milestones.
In some cases, sexual assault survivors have been compelled to share showers and locker rooms with male athletes, officials stated.
McNabb reported suffering from a neck injury, concussion, lasting vision impairment, partial paralysis on the right side of her body, as well as mental distress.
The interpretation of Title IX regulations was quite different under the previous administration.
“Every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity and to live free from fear, regardless of their identity or whom they love,” reads Biden’s executive order. “Children should learn without the anxiety of being denied access to restrooms, locker rooms, or school sports.”
This effectively transformed women’s sports into co-ed programs, thereby “erasing women’s sports and spaces,” the current White House official remarked, further stating that it was a “disservice to numerous female athletes who pour significant effort into their sports only to find themselves competing against biological men.”
In April 2024, a federal appeals court overturned West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act,” a law prohibiting males from competing in female competitions, challenged by the Biden administration.
Trump’s administration states that it will also collaborate with the United Nations to explore solutions, citing a U.N. report emphasizing the necessity for women to have single-sex spaces.
While detractors argue that the president aims to exclude transgender individuals from sports, the White House clarifies that the regulations “do not pertain to that” and suggests that transgender athletes might still participate in coed events or male teams.
“The policy of the United States acknowledges two sexes, male and female,” the order states. “These sexes are immutable and based on fundamental and indisputable reality. Under my directive, the Executive Branch will uphold all sex-protective laws to promote this reality.”
The U.S. House of Representatives has also recently passed legislation that would prohibit men from competing in women’s sports.
