In a move reigniting fierce debate over transgender rights in the U.S., President Donald Trump is set to issue an executive order barring transgender women and girls from participating in female school sports.
Titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," the order follows through on a campaign promise Trump made during his 2024 presidential bid.
The announcement has drawn both strong support and sharp criticism. Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, a vocal opponent of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, expressed her firm backing of the measure.
"Women’s sports exist for a reason—because biological differences matter," Mace stated in a press release Tuesday. She confirmed that she would stand alongside the President as he signs the order.
A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the administration’s plans, leaving many legal experts questioning the executive order's enforceability.
To formally prevent transgender students from participating in school sports, Congress would likely need to amend Title IX—the landmark 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs—or the Department of Education would have to establish new regulations.
Nonetheless, conservative lawmakers like Mace have accused schools with trans-inclusive policies of compromising women's rights in favor of what they call "woke politics."
The debate over transgender athletes has gained prominence in recent years, with Republican-led states passing laws aimed at restricting trans participation in women’s sports.
The executive order will be part of a broader series of sweeping directives signed by Trump since his return to office on 20 January. His administration has moved swiftly to roll back LGBTQ+ protections, including restrictions on transgender individuals serving in the military. Reports have surfaced indicating that officials have already begun efforts to remove at least one transgender service member and deny applications from trans individuals seeking to enlist.
The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would prohibit federal funding from being allocated to K-12 schools that allow transgender students to compete in women’s sports. That bill is now awaiting Senate approval. If passed, it would head to the President’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. Despite Trump's aggressive push on the issue, legal challenges are almost certain to follow.
The executive order is expected to be signed in the coming days, setting the stage for what could be a defining legal and cultural clash in the years ahead.