US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that seeks to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The order threatens to cut federal funding to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete, fulfilling another contentious promise in his cultural agenda.
The order directs the Department of Education to notify schools that permitting transgender athletes on girls’ teams violates Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination in education. Schools that fail to comply risk losing their eligibility for federal funds.
This move marks the latest chapter in Trump’s broader efforts to challenge transgender rights, following previous actions that have sparked debate and resistance in school districts and college campuses nationwide.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump stated during an appearance in the White House’s East Room, as supporters cheered. “The war on women’s sports is over.”
Trump described the order as part of a broader initiative to “reclaim our culture and our laws.”
At the state level, Trump’s allies have used his directives to push for more conservative policies on transgender students. Responses from school districts have varied, ranging from compliance to open resistance.
This new executive order follows a series of controversial actions during Trump’s presidency. On his first day in office, he issued an order stating there are only two genders. Additionally, the Department of Education opened an investigation into a Denver school district’s all-gender bathroom policy, and Trump signed an order penalizing teachers who assist students in socially transitioning.
School districts now face the challenge of adjusting to an increasingly complex legal and political environment. While some are considering policy changes in response to the president’s directive, others are reaffirming their commitment to maintaining safe and inclusive environments for LGBTQ students.
