Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Transgender Women and Girls from Competing in Female Sports

On February 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from participating in female sports, a move that supporters claim will restore fairness to women’s athletics. The order directs the Department of Justice to enforce a ban on transgender athletes in school sports under Title IX, which protects against sex discrimination in education. Trump stated, “The war on women’s sports is over,” during a signing ceremony attended by women and girls in sports jerseys. The policy also threatens to withdraw federal funding from schools that allow transgender athletes to compete in female-designated events.

This new directive targets a small group of athletes, with fewer than 10 transgender athletes currently competing among the 530,000 students in NCAA member schools. While some organizations, like the NCAA, have expressed support for a clear national policy amidst varying state laws, critics argue that the order infringes on the rights of transgender individuals and creates unnecessary obstacles for a marginalized group. The Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX, which protects transgender individuals from sex-based discrimination, had been blocked in January, and the latest executive order is expected to face legal challenges as well.

The decision has sparked significant political debate. While Republican leaders and many voters applaud the move, arguing it protects fairness in women’s sports, human rights organizations and LGBTQ+ advocates condemn it as an attack on transgender rights. In addition to the school sports ban, the order also pressures the International Olympic Committee to adopt policies restricting transgender athletes in Olympic events, particularly those held on U.S. soil, such as the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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