On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports. This move, called the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order, aims to strengthen protections for women in athletics under Title IX, a federal law that ensures fairness in women’s sports.
At the signing ceremony, President Trump criticized transgender women, saying they had “stolen 3,000 victories” from female athletes. He argued that this was part of an attack on traditional gender norms and fairness. The president claimed the order would protect women from unfair competition, bullying, and injuries. He also warned that schools that do not follow the new rule could lose federal funding.
“With this executive order the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared.
What the Executive Order Does
The order, signed on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, mandates the U.S. Department of Education to enforce the ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports at both K-12 and college levels. Schools that fail to comply may be in violation of federal laws and could lose federal funding.
Collaboration with Sports Organizations
The Trump administration is working with organizations, including the NCAA, to protect female athletes. The order notes that more than 7,000 female athletes have called for the removal of male athletes from their competitions.
State Attorneys General to Take Action
A group of state attorneys general is set to meet at the White House to discuss the enforcement of state laws on this issue. The White House also reported that nearly 900 medals in women’s sports have been awarded to male athletes in recent years, depriving female athletes of opportunities for scholarships and recognition.
A Contrast to Biden’s Approach
This order builds on a similar action Trump took at the start of his presidency, where he declared that there are only two genders: male and female. In contrast, President Joe Biden signed an order allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s programs, aligning with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling that gender identity should be protected under civil rights laws.
Public Support for the Order
Recent polls show that most Americans support the idea behind Trump’s order. A 2023 Gallup survey found that many believe transgender athletes should not compete on sports teams that match their gender identity. Similarly, a 2024 survey found that a majority of voters, including many Trump supporters, felt that support for transgender rights had gone too far.
Support from Parents Defending Education
Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, praised the order, calling it “welcome news for female athletes.” She stated, “We want our daughters to compete in sports on a level playing field, without biological boys and men taking away their opportunities for medals and scholarships.”
