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

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," directing federal agencies to enforce it in line with his administration's interpretation of sex as the gender assigned at birth.

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“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared during a ceremony in the White House East Room, attended by lawmakers and female athletes supporting the ban, including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the order will require immediate enforcement actions against schools and athletic associations that allow transgender athletes in single-sex sports or locker rooms.

The timing of the order, coinciding with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, signals the Trump administration's continued efforts to restrict transgender participation in sports. 

The order imposes penalties on institutions that fail to comply, impacting both educational and professional sports organizations.

"From now on, women’s sports will be only for women," Trump stated before signing. "We’ve gotten the woke lunacy out of our military, and now we’re getting it out of women’s sports," he added, referencing his administration’s moves to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the military.

Trump also announced that his administration would block transgender athletes from competing in US-hosted international events, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the World Cup. “In Los Angeles in 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes,” Trump said, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny visas to men seeking entry as female athletes.