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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports, a move that has drawn both praise and fierce criticism. Dubbed the “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order,” the measure marks Trump’s fourth executive order targeting transgender rights since taking office on January 20.
Speaking from a White House podium surrounded by female athletes, Trump framed the order as a victory for women’s sports.
“The radical left has waged an all-out campaign to erase the very concept of biological sex,” Trump said. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
Trump cited examples of what he described as “men claiming to be girls” and “stealing” victories in women’s sports. At one point, he falsely claimed that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who faced gender scrutiny at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was assigned male at birth.
What the Executive Order Does
The administration outlined two key components of the order:
- Rolling Back Biden-Era Title IX Protections: Schools receiving federal funding will now be barred from allowing transgender girls and women to compete in female sports or use women’s facilities. The Department of Education will enforce compliance by investigating potential violations.
- International Sports Regulations & Visa Policies: The administration will work with sports governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, to apply these standards beyond school settings. Officials also stated that the order will affect visa policies, with foreign transgender athletes facing additional scrutiny when entering the U.S. “If you are claiming to be a woman but are a male here to compete against women, we’re going to be reviewing that for fraud,” a White House official said.
A Politically Timed Order
The timing of Trump’s executive order is significant. Wednesday marked the 39th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day, an event celebrating female athletes. The issue of transgender women competing in sports was also a central theme in Trump’s 2024 campaign, where he repeatedly pledged to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
Public opinion on the issue has shifted in recent years. A May 2023 Gallup poll found that 69% of U.S. adults believe transgender athletes should compete only on teams matching their sex at birth, up from 62% in 2021. Currently, 27 states have already enacted laws restricting transgender athletes’ participation in school sports.
Reactions: Praise & Backlash
The executive order has ignited passionate responses from both sides of the debate.
Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and vocal opponent of trans women in women’s sports, attended the signing ceremony and praised the move.
“Things could’ve been so different. Gender insanity was the final straw that brought a lot of moderates to the side of common sense,” Gaines wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ve been living in a state of gratitude every day since Nov. 5. Praise God.”
However, LGBTQ advocates and civil rights groups quickly condemned the order.
Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender NCAA Division I athlete, called the move “absolutely devastating” and “discriminatory.”
“This is a policing of women’s bodies in sports,” Bailar said. “It doesn’t just hurt trans athletes—it invites discrimination against all female athletes.”
Lambda Legal attorney Carl Charles criticized the administration’s focus on transgender athletes, calling the policy “fearmongering” and noting that legal battles have already blocked similar state-level bans in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and West Virginia.
“We are appalled, and in fact disgusted, at this administration’s insatiable appetite for targeting this most vulnerable population,” Charles said.
A Broader Crackdown on Transgender Rights
The sports ban is just one of several recent Trump orders restricting transgender rights.
- On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an order stating that the U.S. government will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and that “these sexes are not changeable.”
- He reinstated a ban on transgender people serving openly in the military.
- He signed an order restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors nationwide.
Legal challenges against the administration’s transgender policies are expected to escalate in the coming months. As the political and legal battles unfold, the future of transgender athletes in U.S. sports remains uncertain.
