President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Wednesday aimed at barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. This move, which was a key pledge in his 2024 campaign, marks a significant policy shift on gender and sports.
The executive order, titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, directs federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), to interpret Title IX regulations as prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. The White House confirmed the order mandates immediate enforcement, applying to schools and athletic organizations that allow such participation.
The order also outlines that state attorneys general will be tasked with determining the best ways to enforce the policy. The move is expected to affect sports bodies, including the NCAA, which are urged to adjust their rules to align with the federal mandate.
At the signing ceremony, Trump was surrounded by female athletes and critics of transgender participation in women’s sports. He fiercely criticized what he called “transgender lunacy” and reiterated his commitment to defending female athletes. He also made controversial statements about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, falsely claiming she was a male despite being assigned female at birth.
Despite the uproar from right-wing groups, the number of transgender athletes in women’s sports remains low. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously stated that fewer than 10 out of 500,000 athletes are transgender.
The executive order is also aimed at overturning Biden-era policies that required schools and athletic organizations to treat gender identity and sex as equivalent. These policies had been challenged in court, and the ruling made them unnecessary, according to the White House.
The executive order threatens schools with the loss of federal funding if they do not comply with the new rules. Additionally, private sports bodies will be required to meet at the White House to hear testimonies from female athletes about the impact of transgender participation.
In addition to changes at the national level, the order directs the Secretary of State to push the International Olympic Committee to maintain single-sex competition. The Department of Homeland Security will also review visa policies to prevent transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
This executive order is part of a broader agenda by Trump, who recently signed another executive order restricting gender-affirming care for minors.
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