Trump's Executive Order Bans Transgender Women from Competing in Women's Sports

Trump's Executive Order Bans Transgender Women from Competing in Women's Sports

Washington D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The order, signed on Wednesday, states that the federal government will stop funding educational institutions that allow transgender girls and women to participate in women’s sports or use women’s locker rooms.

The order directs government agencies to promote gender-specific women’s sports divisions within international sports organizations and encourages representatives of major sports bodies to promote "fair and safe policies" that respect the interests of female athletes.

Trump said, "We are warning every school that receives taxpayer money: if you allow men to take over women’s sports teams or let them enter your locker rooms, you will face an investigation for violating Title IX and risk your federal funding."

“Attacks on women’s sports are over,” Trump continued, “We will not let this happen anymore, and it ends now, because when I speak, we speak with authority.”

He also added that he would push the International Olympic Committee to clearly support gender-specific participation ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

LGBTQ rights organizations have strongly criticized the order. Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ rights organization, expressed regret that transgender youth would no longer be able to enjoy playing sports in their full and authentic selves. GLADD, the largest LGBTQ rights organization, condemned Trump's order as "wrong and disorganized."

Meanwhile, NCAA President Charlie Baker welcomed Trump’s order as a "clear, national standard" that would establish a clear and unified eligibility criterion, resolving conflicts between state laws and court decisions.

However, LGBTQ rights groups stated that they would continue their efforts to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all in sports.