Former President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday, barring transgender women—biological males—from competing in women’s sports at the federal level.

Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently highlighted this issue, promising voters that he would protect women’s sports from what he called “unfair competition”. Now, as he returns to office, he is making good on that pledge, pushing forward one of the most controversial executive orders in recent history.

With strong Republican support and legal battles ahead, this move is set to reshape policies at schools, colleges, and sports organizations across the country.

Why Trump Is Signing This Executive Order

The issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports has been a major political battleground in recent years.

• Many conservative lawmakers, parents, and female athletes argue that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports creates an unfair advantage, taking away scholarships, titles, and opportunities from female athletes.
• Trump capitalized on this frustration, using it as a rallying point throughout his campaign.
• At multiple campaign events, Trump criticized Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic candidate, for supporting trans inclusion in sports.

Now, just weeks into his return to the White House, Trump is delivering on his campaign promise by issuing an executive order banning transgender women from participating in female sports leagues.

The Statistics That Sparked the Debate

Trump and his supporters have referenced a 2023 United Nations report, which found that:

• As of March 30, 2024, over 600 female athletes lost out on more than 890 medals due to transgender competitors.
• These competitions spanned 29 different sports, raising concerns about the long-term impact on women’s athletics.

Reem Alsalem, a UN Special Rapporteur, warned that the replacement of female-only categories with mixed-gender categories has cost female athletes opportunities, scholarships, and championships.

This data has fueled the argument that protecting women’s sports requires strict regulations—something Trump’s executive order seeks to enforce.

The Impact on Title IX and Biden’s LGBTQ+ Protections

During Joe Biden’s presidency, the administration expanded Title IX, the 1972 federal law prohibiting s*x discrimination in education, to include protections for gender identity and s*xual orientation.

However, Trump and Republican lawmakers claimed this move was simply a way to force schools to allow transgender athletes on women’s teams.

• The Biden administration insisted that sports policies were exempt from the expanded Title IX regulations.
• However, several states challenged the policy in court, leading to a federal judge overturning Biden’s amendment last month.

Trump’s executive order effectively dismantles Biden’s Title IX expansion, ensuring that federal policy only recognizes male and female categories based on biological s*x.

Other Gender-Related Policies Under Trump’s Administration

Since returning to office, Trump has issued multiple executive orders targeting gender identity policies. These include:

• Eliminating federal recognition of nonbinary gender markers – Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that U.S. passports will no longer include an “X” gender option.
• Ending government-funded gender-affirming care for minors – Trump ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to halt all federal support for hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and gender transition surgeries for individuals under the age of 19.
• Dismantling diversity and gender programs – Trump signed an executive order eliminating federal funding for initiatives that promote gender identity education or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
• Banning pronouns in government emails – Federal employees are now prohibited from including their preferred pronouns in official email signatures.

With these changes, Trump has positioned himself as the most aggressively anti-LGBTQ+ president in modern history, ensuring that federal policies reflect a strict interpretation of biological s*x.

How Will This Order Affect Women’s Sports?

Trump’s executive order will have immediate and long-term effects on high school, collegiate, and professional women’s sports.

1. NCAA and Collegiate Sports Regulations

The NCAA, which has previously allowed transgender athletes to compete based on testosterone suppression rules, will now face pressure to revise its policies.

• Trump’s order prevents federal funding from going to any school or university that allows transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
• Schools that fail to comply may lose federal aid or face legal consequences.

2. High School and Youth Sports Leagues

State-level high school sports will be directly impacted, as the order requires:

• State athletic associations to enforce s*x-based eligibility in girls’ sports.
• Public schools to comply with the federal order to continue receiving education funding.

3. Olympic and International Competitions

While U.S. Olympic teams fall under international governing bodies, Trump’s order could influence national team selection policies.

• U.S. sports organizations that receive federal funding may be forced to ban transgender athletes from women’s teams.
• This could spark conflict with global sports organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics.

Legal Challenges and Opposition

Although Trump’s order has strong Republican backing, it is almost certain to face legal challenges from:

• LGBTQ+ advocacy groups
• Civil rights organizations
• Democratic state governments

Legal experts predict that:

• The ACLU and Human Rights Campaign will file lawsuits challenging the order on the basis of discrimination.
• Federal judges in liberal-leaning states may issue temporary injunctions to block its enforcement.
• The case could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, where the conservative majority may uphold Trump’s policy.

Why This Executive Order Matters

Trump’s decision to sign this executive order on Wednesday is no coincidence—the day marks the 39th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

By signing the order on this date, Trump is sending a clear message:

“Women’s sports must be protected from unfair competition.”

This move will define his second term’s approach to gender issues and will likely be one of the most debated policies of his presidency.

Final Thoughts: A Policy That Will Shape the Future of Athletics

Trump’s ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports is one of the most controversial executive orders in modern history.

• Supporters argue that it preserves fairness and protects female athletes from losing opportunities.
• Opponents call it discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth who seek inclusion in sports.

Regardless of where the debate leads, one thing is certain—this executive order will reshape women’s athletics in America for years to come.