The Education Department has urged organizations overseeing high school and college athletics to strip records, titles, and awards from transgender women who have competed in women’s sports. The department sent a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations calling on them to restore female athletes the recognition that has been taken by biological males competing in female categories. This action comes after the NCAA implemented a new policy prohibiting trans women from competing in women’s sports, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order threatens to revoke federal funding from schools that do not comply with the policy. The Education Department’s release included statements from former athletes advocating against including trans women in women’s sports, citing the need for equal opportunities for female athletes.
While more than 500,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championship sports, the number of transgender athletes is unclear. The NFHS reported that over 8 million students competed in high school sports, but the number of transgender students is also unknown. Prior to Trump’s executive order, more than half of states had implemented measures restricting trans athletes from playing on teams that align with their gender identities. However, lawsuits have blocked state bans in several states, indicating the potential legal challenges that may arise from Trump’s order. Despite the action taken by the Education Department, sponsors of state legislation restricting trans athletes’ participation in school sports were unable to cite instances where such participation had caused problems in their states.
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