Wed, July 02, 2025
UPenn reaches settlement with Trump admin regarding transgender participation
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) will prohibit transgender women from the women’s sport category after reaching a settlement with the Trump administration. The university was found guilty of violations after a Department of Education (DOE) civil rights investigation discovered that it allowed transgender women to compete in the women’s category.
As a result, UPenn now needs to abide by Title IX as understood by the DOE. Title IX is a U.S. federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding. It was implemented as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. The DOE argues that in order to prevent discrimination against women, gender should be based solely on sex assigned at birth. Therefore, the DOE is in alignment with Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
UPenn will now also provide sex-based locker rooms and bathrooms so transgender women cannot use the same changing and toilet facilities as biological women.
Previously, Trump’s administration withheld $175 million in federal funding from UPenn as it allowed transgender swimmer Lia Thomas on its women’s swim team. Thomas won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 national championship in 2022. During this time, Lia Thomas’ participation complied with NCAA eligibility rules and Title IX, but these have been updated and interpreted differently since. The NCAA aligned itself with Trump’s executive order in February.
Furthermore, individual Division 1 swimming records and titles will be re-awarded to female athletes who previously missed out due to transgender athletes. The university must also issue written apologies to all female swimmers who initially missed out.
Linda McMahon, DOE secretary, said that banning transgender athletes from the women’s category is “common sense.”
She continued: “Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women's sports are protected at the University for future generations of female athletes.”
UPenn expressed that it will protect women from “gender ideology extremism” by implementing these changes. It voiced: “The University will not delegate its obligation to comply with Title IX to an external association or other entity and it will not contract with, or arrange with any third party entity to provide benefits of the University's athletics programs, if that third-party entity is acting in violation of Title IX.”
Dr. J. Larry Jameson, UPenn president, expressed: “Our commitment to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all of our students is unwavering. At the same time, we must comply with federal requirements, including executive orders, and NCAA eligibility rules, so our teams and student-athletes may engage in competitive intercollegiate sports.”
Former University of Kentucky NCAA swimmer, Riley Gaines, voiced: “This Administration does not just pay lip service to women's equality: it vigorously insists on that equality being upheld. It is my hope that today demonstrates to educational institutions that they will no longer be allowed to trample upon women's civil rights, and renews hope in every female athlete that their country's highest leadership will not relent until they have the dignity, safety, and fairness they deserve.”
Similar situations are expected to follow suit as the DOE has opened 20 Title IX investigations into schools.
The DOE’s full statement can be found here.
UPenn’s full statement can be found here.
