US: What to know about Trump’s latest order ‘keeping men out of women’s sports’
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”. Below are five key points to know about the executive order:
Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which bans transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. This action fulfills a key promise made during his 2024 campaign. The order directs federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to interpret Title IX rules as prohibiting transgender girls and women from competing in female sports categories.
Immediate Enforcement and State-Level Action The executive order mandates immediate enforcement, targeting schools and athletic organizations that deny women single-sex sports and locker rooms. It also directs state attorneys general to identify best practices for enforcing the mandate. Trump, surrounded by female athletes during the signing ceremony, condemned what he referred to as “transgender lunacy.”
Trump’s Controversial Comments on Athletes During the signing, Trump criticized transgender women in sports, stating, “Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls.” He also made a false claim about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who faced attacks over her sex and gender during the 2024 Paris Olympics, saying she was “a male,” despite Khelif identifying as female and being assigned female at birth, according to the IOC.
Impact on NCAA and Other Sports Organizations The White House expects sports bodies like the NCAA to change their rules in accordance with the executive order. NCAA President Charlie Baker, at a Senate hearing in December, stated, “We’re a national governing body and we follow federal law. Clarity on this issue at the federal level would be very helpful.”
Backlash and Legal Threats The order has faced criticism, especially from LGBTQ advocates. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, warned the order could lead to harassment and discrimination, stating, “This order could expose young people to harassment and discrimination, emboldening people to question the gender of kids who don’t fit a narrow view of how they’re supposed to dress or look.”
The order also threatens universities with the loss of federal funding and potential lawsuits if they do not comply. Mailman added, “Title IX has a private right of action component behind it, so if schools are violating the law, they’re at risk of lawsuits from their female students, which could result in multi-million dollar lawsuits.”