WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting transgender girls and women from competing in women’s sports.
Supporters of the decision have celebrated it as a pivotal stride toward fairness in athletics, while critics decry it as a blatant assault on the rights of a vulnerable community.
Under this new directive, the Department of Justice is instructed to enforce a ban on transgender girls and women participating in female school sports, drawing on Trump’s interpretation of Title IX—a federal law designed to combat sex discrimination in education.
“The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared during a signing ceremony, flanked by a group of women and girls who support his stance. “My administration will not sit idle while men dominate female athletes.”
The order is poised to encounter legal scrutiny, as it mandates swift enforcement across the nation. Schools permitting transgender women or girls to compete in female-designated sports risk losing federal funding.
Despite its sweeping implications, the order is expected to impact only a small fraction of athletes; the president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association recently noted that fewer than ten transgender athletes compete among the vast pool of 520,000 athletes across 1,100 member schools.
Yet, this issue has resonated deeply with many voters, as evidenced by enthusiastic applause at Trump’s campaign rallies when he addressed the topic of banning transgender athletes.
His campaign has heavily featured advertisements criticising the participation of transgender women and girls in female sports, tapping into a sentiment that polls indicate is shared by a majority of Americans.
This executive order follows a series of similar actions taken by Trump to limit transgender rights, including an attempt to end federal healthcare support for those undergoing gender transition under the age of 19 and a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
These measures have all faced immediate legal challenges. On his first day in office, Trump mandated that government employees use the term “sex” exclusively, dismissing “gender” as a fluid concept and asserting that sex is a fixed biological condition.
The discourse surrounding transgender participation in sports has largely revolved around the concept of fairness, with detractors arguing that those who have undergone male puberty possess inherent physical advantages.
Conversely, advocates for transgender rights assert that there is insufficient evidence to support claims of unfair advantage among transgender women.
This recent order effectively overturns the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX, which had extended protections against discrimination to transgender individuals—an interpretation previously halted by a federal judge in 2024.
Also, over 20 states have enacted legislation prohibiting transgender girls from joining girls’ sports, some of which are currently facing legal challenges.
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The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has established guidelines requiring transgender women athletes to adhere to testosterone limits specific to each sport but does not maintain records on transgender participation in high school athletics.
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, criticized Trump’s actions, warning that they would subject children to increased harassment and discrimination.
“For many students, sports represent a place of belonging. We should foster inclusivity for all children, rather than imposing divisive, partisan policies,” Robinson stated.
The executive order directed the Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize visa applications for transgender women seeking to compete in women’s sports, ensuring their gender aligns with their assigned sex at birth.
A White House official emphasised that those entering the country while claiming a female identity will be reviewed for potential fraud. The order also mandates the State Department to advocate for changes within the International Olympic Committee to restrict transgender athletes from competing, asserting that the US will utilize all available means to enforce these stipulations during Olympic events, especially with the Summer 2028 Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles.
