In a highly controversial move, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from participating in female athletics. The order mandates that high schools and colleges allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports or use female locker rooms will lose federal funding.
Trump made it clear that the government would not allow transgender women in female sports, signaling a firm stance against the practice. The order also pressures the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to enforce sex-based participation rules for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and beyond.
READ MORE: Atif Aslam to Sing Official Anthem for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Despite the relatively small number of transgender athletes, this decision has sparked a heated debate across the country. A 2023 Gallup poll showed that 69 percent of Americans believe transgender athletes should compete on teams corresponding to their sex at birth, up from 62 percent in 2021. The controversy was fueled by high-profile cases, such as transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who won the NCAA Division I national championship in 2022 before being excluded from women’s events by World Aquatics.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) backed the executive order, calling it a “clear, national standard” to avoid conflicting state laws. However, LGBTQ rights groups denounced the move, claiming it harms transgender youth.
This executive order is part of a series of actions by Trump aimed at limiting transgender rights, including measures restricting gender transition treatments for minors and banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. The move has further intensified the ongoing debate about transgender rights in sports, with advocates for inclusion pledging to continue their fight for equality.
