U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports across the country.
The order, signed on Wednesday, directs the U.S. Department of Education to enforce compliance in schools nationwide. Institutions that fail to comply risk federal funding cuts and potential investigations under Title IX.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump stated while announcing the directive.
The ban extends to International Olympic Committee (IOC) events hosted in the U.S., a move that could impact transgender participation in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The decision adds to an ongoing debate over transgender inclusion in sports, with critics arguing for fairness in women’s competitions, while LGBTQ+ rights activists condemn the move as discriminatory.
Recall that in recent years, the participation of transgender women in female sports has faced global scrutiny. In 2023, World Athletics banned athletes who had gone through male puberty from competing in women’s categories, reflecting a broader push to regulate eligibility criteria in elite sports.
