President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order banning transgender women from participating in female sports, marking a significant shift in US athletics policy.
The order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," comes on the 39th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
The move follows through on one of Trump's key campaign promises during his presidential election, where he repeatedly vowed to "keep men out of women's sports."
A United Nations report from last year highlighted the significant impact on women's sports, finding that nearly 900 medals have been lost to biological males.
President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order banning transgender women from participating in female sports, marking a significant shift in US athletics policy (stock image)
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The report documented that through March 2024, "over 600 female athletes in more than 400 competitions have lost more than 890 medals in 29 different sports."
Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem wrote that "the replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities."
The debate gained particular attention after swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title in 2022.
Many college students and their parents have expressed concern about opportunities women were losing due to biological men competing in their sports.
Since taking office in January, Trump has implemented several policies affecting gender identity through executive orders.
On his first day, he signed an order declaring the federal government would recognise only two unchangeable sexes: female and male.
The signing represents the latest in a series of executive actions by the Trump administration affecting transgender rights since returning to office last month.
The issue gained prominence during the 2024 election campaign, where Republicans successfully used it to rally voters against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who had pledged to support trans-rights.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently suspended passport applications using gender-neutral 'X' markers, reversing a Biden-era policy.
Trump has ordered federal employees to remove pronouns from email signatures and ended diversity and gender initiatives across government.
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He also signed an order restricting gender care for those under 19, ending federal support for treatments including puberty blockers and hormones.
The administration has begun efforts to remove transgender service members from the military and is blocking new applications from trans individuals seeking to enlist.
Legal experts are questioning the enforceability of Trump's executive order, as formal restrictions on transgender students in sports may require Congressional action.
Changes would likely need amendments to Title IX, the 1972 law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education, or new Department of Education regulations.
Since taking office in January, Trump has implemented several policies affecting gender identity through executive orders
Getty ImagesRepresentative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has expressed strong support for the measure, stating: "Women's sports exist for a reason—because biological differences matter."
She added that Trump's order “restores fairness, upholds Title IXs original intent, and defends the rights of female athletes who have worked their whole lives to compete at the highest levels”.
The US House of Representatives has already passed a bill to prohibit federal funding for K-12 schools allowing transgender students in women's sports, which awaits Senate approval.
The Biden administration had previously attempted to expand Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, but several states challenged this in court.
Last month, a federal judge struck down Biden's Title IX changes, which the White House had insisted did not apply to athletics.
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