The Trump administration has announced a halt to $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) due to its transgender athlete policies. The decision, shared on social media Wednesday, claims that the university’s stance forces female athletes to compete against male-born athletes. The post ended with Trump’s well-known slogan, “Promises made, promises kept.”
UPenn, however, stated that it has not received any formal notification about the funding suspension. A university spokesperson clarified that UPenn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student athletes and remains in full compliance with all applicable regulations.
This move follows Trump’s recent executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The order claims that such participation is unfair and harmful to women’s athletics. It further directs federal agencies to pull funding from educational programs that allegedly disadvantage female athletes.
Lia Thomas Case and Ongoing Controversy
The University of Pennsylvania has been at the center of national debate since Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, made history by winning an NCAA championship in 2022. Thomas’ participation led to backlash from conservative groups, some of whom misgendered her and used her former name to discredit her achievements.
Recently, three former UPenn swimmers filed a lawsuit against the university, Harvard, the Ivy League, and the NCAA, claiming Title IX violations. Title IX is a federal law that protects against sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funding. The lawsuit argues that allowing transgender women to compete in female sports infringes on the rights of cisgender female athletes.
The Trump administration’s latest funding halt aligns with its ongoing investigations into UPenn and San Jose State University. These investigations center around transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. Officials claim that the UPenn case specifically led to the decision to pause discretionary federal funding.
White House Defends Funding Pause
A senior White House official explained that the funding suspension was an “immediate proactive action” to review financial support to universities that allegedly fail to protect female athletes. However, the official clarified that this is not directly related to the ongoing Title IX investigation by the Education Department.
The administration insists that its executive order restores fairness in women’s sports and aligns with traditional gender definitions. Trump’s policies roll back previous guidance under President Biden, which allowed transgender students to compete based on their gender identity.
The new directive also instructs federal agencies to work with sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, to implement these rules beyond educational institutions.
Legal Battles and Student Reactions
The funding pause adds to the growing legal battles surrounding transgender athletes in schools. Last month, two transgender students in New Hampshire won the right to continue playing on their school teams while their lawsuit challenging the state’s trans athlete ban proceeds.
One of the students, Parker Tirrell, shared how important playing soccer is in their life. “I just want to go to school, learn, and play the game I love,” Tirrell said.
Legal experts argue that these sweeping policy changes amount to a coordinated effort to limit transgender rights in education and sports. Advocacy groups have called these actions “cruel and discriminatory,” especially as they impact young students navigating their identities.
What’s Next?
Trump’s executive order goes beyond just sports. He has also signed directives defining gender as strictly male or female, barring transgender people from military service, and restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors. However, some of these policies have already been blocked by courts.
As legal battles continue, universities, students, and policymakers remain divided on the issue. With the 2024 elections approaching, this topic is expected to be a major point of political debate.
