Trump signs executive order intended to bar transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, aimed at restricting the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
The executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” grants federal agencies broad discretion to ensure that organisations receiving federal funding comply with Title IX in accordance with the Trump administration’s interpretation, which defines “sex” based on the gender assigned at birth.
Trump declared at a signing event in the East Room, attended by lawmakers and female athletes supporting the ban, including former college swimmer Riley Gaines, With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,.’
Karoline Leavitt, who is the White House Press Secretary,  emphasised that the order “upholds the promise of Title IX” and will necessitate “immediate action, including enforcement actions, against schools and athletic associations” that prevent women from participating in single-sex sports and accessing single-sex locker rooms.
The order was issued on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, marking the latest in a series of executive measures by the Republican president directed at transgender people.
In a recent survey, by other media houses, a majority of voters expressed the view that the support for transgender rights in both government and society has become excessive. He emphasized this sentiment in his rhetoric leading up to the election, vowing to address what he referred to as “transgender insanity,” although his campaign provided limited specifics on how this would be implemented.
This executive order empowers the Department of Education to impose penalties on schools that permit transgender athletes to compete, citing potential noncompliance with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational institutions. Schools found to be in violation may face the risk of becoming ineligible for federal funding.
Since the onset of the Trump administration, the department has initiated an inquiry into Denver public schools regarding the establishment of an all-gender bathroom that replaced a girls’ restroom, while another remains designated exclusively for boys.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been warned by Trump ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The president stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been empowered to make it clear to the IOC that “America categorically rejects transgender lunacy. We want them to change everything having to do with the Olympics and having to do with this absolutely ridiculous subject.”
 The IOC has chosen to defer the decision on transgender participation to the international federations of each sport, allowing them to determine their own guidelines. This could change with the appointment of a new IOC president following the retirement of Thomas Bach. Among the candidates for the upcoming election in March is Sebastian Coe, the current president of World Athletics and a former track star. Coe has been a prominent advocate for policies that restrict participation in female sports to cisgender women.
President Trump also mentioned that Kristi Noem, the Director of Homeland Security, would take steps to review and deny any visa applications from individuals attempting to enter the United States under false pretences, particularly those posing as women athletes in order to participate in the Games. Organizers for the 2028 Olympics have yet to provide a response to inquiries regarding this matter. This announcement is part of a broader series of actions by the Trump administration addressing issues related to transgender individuals.
The previous executive orders have sought to prevent the federal government from recognizing gender transitions beyond those assigned at birth, affecting areas such as passports and prisons. Additionally, there have been efforts to restrict transgender individuals’ access to military service, federal health insurance, and funding for gender-affirming care for those under 19. There have also been moves to limit how gender-related lessons are taught in schools.
Legal objections to several of the administration’s initiatives have already emerged. Transgender individuals have filed lawsuits concerning some of the policies, with the possibility of additional legal actions forthcoming. Civil rights attorneys representing the plaintiffs have argued that, in certain cases, the executive orders may conflict with laws enacted by Congress and constitutional protections, potentially exceeding the president’s authority.
Charlie Baker, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), stated that the NCAA Board of Governors is currently reviewing the order and will take appropriate steps to align NCAA policies accordingly in the near future, pending further guidance from the administration. Baker, who previously mentioned being aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes who identify as transgender, acknowledged that the order offers a consistent policy framework, replacing the current patchwork of state laws.
The Trump administration has restored order and brought joy and relief for many who were the victims of unjust and senseless policies. This has proven to be a  “FAIRNESS FOR ALL” administration indeed.