President Trump has enacted an executive order designed to prevent transgender women from participating in women's sports under Title IX, utilizing the potential withdrawal of federal funding to enforce compliance.

During the East Room signing ceremony on February 5th at the White House, surrounded by numerous female athletes, Trump declared, "From now on, women’s sports will be only for women." He further warned, "If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding."

The directive instructs the Education Department to "take all appropriate action to affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities and all-female locker rooms," clarifying that "women’s sports are reserved for women." It also mandates resolving existing lawsuits in a manner "consistent with this policy."

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with denying visas to "men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes," a measure highlighted by Trump as the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles approach. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to communicate to the International Olympic Committee that "America rejects transgender lunacy."

Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funds. Over the years, it has been instrumental in expanding women's sports programs, contributing to the popularity of events like women's basketball, soccer, and softball.

Trump's order states, "In recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports. This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports."

A White House official noted, "On his first day in office, Joe Biden signed an executive order calling on schools across the country to allow students to compete in the sport of their ‘gender identity.’ That is a slap in the [face] to [the] countless female athletes who dedicate tremendous effort to be the best in their sport, only to be forced to compete with biological men."

NCAA President Charlie Baker responded, "We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard. The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration."

This move aligns with Trump's campaign promise to prohibit male participation in women's sports, a topic that has garnered national attention due to cases like Penn swimmer Lia Thomas's setting new records in collegiate competition.