Donald Trump has signed an executive order barring trans women from participating in women’s and girls’ sports across the U.S., declaring the move a victory for fairness in competition.
The debate over trans athletes dominating female sports has been raging for years, with swimmer Lia Thomas becoming a flashpoint after shattering women’s records at the University of Pennsylvania. Her success sparked outcry from athletes like Riley Gaines, who argued that allowing biological males to compete against women undermines fairness. However, critics of such bans have often faced accusations of transphobia, despite framing the issue as one of equality for female athletes.
Marking National Girls’ and Women’s Sports Day, Trump signed the decree in front of cheering young athletes. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” he declared, according to CNN.
The order reverses Biden-era Title IX guidelines, which required schools to let trans students join teams and use facilities matching their gender identity. Under Trump’s policy, only biological females can compete in women’s sports or access gender-segregated spaces like restrooms.
Beyond schools, the administration plans to work with sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, to enforce the policy globally. Even U.S. visa regulations will be affected. “If a man enters the country claiming to be a woman to compete against female athletes, we’ll investigate for fraud,” an official stated.
This is part of a broader push by Trump to define gender strictly as male or female. He has also reinstated a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and prohibited gender-transition treatments, including hormone therapy, for minors.
