The order impacts school and professional sports, enforcing funding cuts for institutions that do not comply with the new rule
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring trans women from competing in female sports, a move that could impact schools and professional competitions nationwide.
The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” enforces penalties on institutions that fail to comply.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump stated before signing the order on Wednesday, which coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
“We’ve gotten the woke lunacy out of our military, and now we’re getting it out of women’s sports,” he said, referring to recent actions taken by his administration to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the armed forces.
Trump also announced his administration would block transgender athletes from competing in international events hosted by the US, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the World Cup.
“In Los Angeles in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes. We’re not going to let it happen,” Trump said. “Just to make sure, I’m also directing our secretary of homeland security to deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the U.S. while identifying as women athletes.”
Surrounded by women and young female athletes, Trump declared, “The war on women’s sports is over.”
The participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports has sparked debate, with some arguing it threatens fairness in female competitions. Others contend that trans athletes should be included based on gender identity rather than assigned sex at birth.
The 2024 Summer Olympics faced controversies regarding athlete eligibility, with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting at the center of discussions about gender verification in sports, while the International Olympic Committee defended their participation.
In 2022, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won the NCAA 500-yard freestyle, sparking debates on fairness in women’s sports.
In 2023, World Athletics banned transgender women who had undergone male puberty from competing in female world-ranking competitions. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated the ruling prioritized fairness for female athletes.
The order is part of broader moves by the Trump administration targeting transgender individuals, including efforts to roll back protections and limit gender-affirming care. On his first day in office, Trump passed an order recognizing only two genders—male and female.
LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups argue the order negatively impacts transgender youth and could violate anti-discrimination laws.
Legal challenges are expected, as courts will determine the legality of the mandate. Some of Trump’s previous directives have faced judicial scrutiny and been blocked by federal judges. The order’s validity may depend on the administration’s interpretation of Title IX, a civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating that it “upholds the promise of Title IX.”
