Continuing his assault on the transgender community, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” that bans trans women from competing in female categories of sports.
According to the BBC, the order provides guidance, regulations and legal interpretations, and it will enlist the Department of Education—which Trump is considering disbanding—to investigate high schools that might not adhere to the declaration. The order, which goes into effect immediately, mostly covers high school, colleges and grassroots sports.
Globally, several sporting/game governing bodies—presiding over cycling, golf and even chess—have banned trans women from competing in the female category at elite level if they have gone through male puberty.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump claimed, specifying that the order would include the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ahead of signing the executive order, Trump declared that “the war on women’s sports is over”, saying that during the LA Games, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
Pro-LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations immediately condemned the order. On the social-media platform Bluesky, the Human Rights Campaign stated, “Sports should be safe & fair for everyone, but President Trump has signed an executive order attacking trans kids and violating the safety & privacy of all girls in sports.” In a statement of facts, GLAAD noted that “the NCAA and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have developed scientifically-based guidelines to ensure fairness and inclusion for at least a decade.” It also stated that “women and girls face significant barriers in sports that have nothing to do with transgender inclusion—inequitable facilities, pay, and marketing; abusive coaches; and racist, sexist, and homophobic harassment.”
A study by the UCLA Williams Institute showed that fewer than 1% of individuals over the age of 13 in the United States are transgender, and the number playing sports is even smaller.