The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a controversial bill that would restrict transgender girls and women from participating in school sports. The “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025,” which seeks to limit transgender athletes’ participation by withholding federal funds from schools that do not comply, was approved by the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday with a 218-206 vote.
The bill, which is supported by Republican President-elect Donald Trump, has sparked heated debate on both sides of the political aisle. While it passed with significant backing from Republicans, it also saw support from two Democrats—Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez—marking a slight shift from previous sessions, when no Democrat supported similar measures.
The legislation aims to amend Title IX, the landmark 1972 federal law that prohibited sex-based discrimination in education, including sports. Under the proposed changes, schools would be required to define sex strictly according to “reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” effectively barring transgender women from competing in women’s sports if they were assigned male at birth.
Additionally, the bill permits transgender women to practice or train with female athletic teams as long as no opportunities are deprived from cisgender females. The bill has sparked widespread controversy, particularly regarding its potential impact on transgender students and athletes.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a staunch supporter of the bill, defended the measure by stating, “We know from Scripture and from nature that men are men and women are women, and men cannot become women.” This view has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who argue the bill discriminates against transgender students and exacerbates societal divisions.
Opponents, including No. 3 House Democrat Pete Aguilar, have expressed concerns that the bill could create unnecessary governmental intervention and potentially harm transgender students. “There is concern that this could lead to abuses or violations of privacy,” Aguilar said, referring to potential government inspections of transgender students.
Despite its passage in the House, the bill faces a challenging road ahead in the Senate. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, they may be able to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, but it remains uncertain whether they can secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
In the midst of this national debate, Democratic Representative Sarah McBride, who made history as the first openly transgender member of Congress, has focused on issues such as economic equality and healthcare protections for unions, showing that the transgender rights conversation is broader and deeply intertwined with ongoing political and social issues.
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