U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, marking his latest policy move on transgender issues since returning to office.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump declared at a White House signing ceremony attended by children and female athletes. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
The order empowers federal agencies to withhold funding from schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams. “If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated… and risk your federal funding,” Trump warned.
Among those present at the event were top Republican figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Trump also announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its policies on transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey the U.S. position to the IOC, stating, “We want them to change everything having to do with the Olympics and this absolutely ridiculous subject.”
Additionally, Trump tasked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with blocking visa applications from individuals “attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes to try and get into the Games.”
The executive order follows a series of actions targeting transgender rights since Trump’s second-term inauguration. He previously declared that U.S. government policy would recognize only two genders, banned transgender individuals from military service, and restricted gender transition procedures for minors.
Trump has consistently made transgender issues a focal point of his political messaging, using the topic as a key attack against his 2024 election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. One of his prominent campaign slogans, “Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump is for you,” underscored his opposition to her stance on gender identity policies.
His latest order aligns with recent Republican-led legislative efforts, including a House bill passed in January imposing restrictions on transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports.
