(The Lion) — The Department of Education (DOE) is urging athletic organizations to revoke awards, records, and titles given to trans-identifying biological males competing in women’s sports.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the department called on the organizations to reassign the “misappropriated” recognitions to the female athletes who would have received them had they not been competing against males.
The move follows a Feb. 5 executive order from President Donald Trump blocking all federal funding from educational institutions that permit male athletes to compete in women’s sports. Immediately after the publication of the executive order, the NCAA announced it would comply with the administration’s “clear, national standard.”
“Because of President Trump’s bold leadership, men will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s sports regardless of how they identify, and the NCAA has correctly changed its tune on its discriminatory practices against female athletes,” stated Candice Jackson, deputy general counsel for DOE, in a press release.
“The next necessary step is to restore athletic records to women who have for years been devalued, ignored, and forced to watch men steal their accolades. The Trump Education Department will do everything in our power to right this wrong and champion the hard-earned accomplishments of past, current, and future female collegiate athletes.”
Though athletic associations and female athletes have responded supportively to the executive order protecting women’s sports, critics of the policy change have indicated their intentions to pursue legal action. Two New Hampshire high school boys who identify as transgender girls are suing to challenge the order preventing them from competing against female athletes.
“The Trump Administration’s executive orders amount to a coordinated campaign to prevent transgender people from functioning in society,” stated Chris Erchull, senior staff attorney at GLAD Law, which is representing the boys.
Blocking an executive order may prove insufficient, however, as legislation that would codify the protection of girls’ sports cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in January. The bill passed with a vote of 218-206, with the chamber’s Republican majority picking up two Democratic votes.
The bill, known as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where the Republican majority would require votes from seven Democratic senators to avoid a filibuster.
