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President Trump Signs Executive Order Barring Transgender Athletes from Girls’ & Women’s Sports. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” the order directs federal agencies to enforce Title IX in accordance with the administration’s interpretation of “sex” as the gender assigned at birth.
The executive order grants federal agencies broad authority to ensure that entities receiving federal funding comply with this interpretation. Schools and athletic associations that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports could face penalties, including the loss of federal funding.
Speaking at a signing ceremony in the East Room, President Trump declared, “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.” The event was attended by lawmakers and female athletes who have publicly supported the ban, including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the order “upholds the promise of Title IX,” the landmark 1972 law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. Leavitt stated that the order mandates “immediate action, including enforcement actions, against schools and athletic associations” that fail to provide single-sex sports and locker rooms for women.
The order provides specific guidance, authorizing the Department of Education to penalize schools that permit transgender athletes to compete, citing violations of Title IX. Critics argue that the order discriminates against transgender individuals and undermines inclusivity in sports. Supporters, however, contend that it protects the integrity of women’s sports and ensures fair competition.
