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President Donald Trump halted $175 million in federal funding to a massive Ivy League university for allowing transgender athlete Lia Thomas to compete with female athletes.
The University of Pennsylvania The institution’s athletic policies permitted Thomas to participate on the women's swim team and access the women's locker rooms and restrooms despite his biological sex characteristics.
As part of the administration's Title IX probe into Trump's former university, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) might lose all federal funds, reports Fox Business.
The White House The quick-response squad from shared the news clip on their X page, asserting that the funding penalty is because of the university’s policies requiring women to vie against men in athletics.
'Promises made, promises kept,' it also included Trump's frequently quoted slogan.
Although $175 million has already been seized from UPenn due to contracts with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services, the administration is now cautioning that every source of federal funding for the university could be jeopardized.
According to the network, an official stated, "This is merely a preview of potential future actions against Penn." They added, "The President plans to implement preemptive penalties by reducing non-essential funding allocated to the institution from both the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services."
A representative from the Ivy League based in Philadelphia stated that they have not received any formal notification or specifics regarding this matter; however, they are cognizant of the reports concerning the suspension of funds.
The spokesperson stated in an email to NBC News, "It should be noted, nonetheless, that Penn has consistently adhered to both NCAA and Ivy League guidelines concerning student involvement in sports teams."
We have always adhered to the rules set for Penn and continue to do so now, as do all our fellow institutions in the NCAA and the Ivy League.
Last month, Trump issued an executive order banning individuals assigned male at birth but identifying as female from participating in women’s and girls’ sports competitions.
The lawsuit argues that permitting transgender athletes to take part in women's sports is degrading, unjust, and risky for women and girls, simultaneously depriving them of the chance to equally participate and thrive in athletic competitions.
Perhaps the most notorious case of a biological male excelling in women's college sports and outperforming others in their gender category after previously being average among male competitors can be seen with Thomas.
Penn made national headlines in 2022 when the transgender student competed on the women's swim team. Thomas went on to become the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship.
Trump said in his order that he will rescind all funds from any education programs and institutions that 'deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.'
The competition of men in women's sports constitutes a dual-edged problem.
The primary argument against transgender athletes participating in women's sports is that the biological distinctions they cite are eroding the advancements achieved in female athletics.
The other issue is that female athletes frequently find themselves sharing a locker room or bathroom with transgender athletes who may still possess male genitalia.
Trump signed an executive order once back in the Oval Office proclaiming the federal government will only recognize two sexes on passports, drivers licenses and other official identification documents.
He additionally signed a measure prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the military and another one that limits gender-confirming treatments and care for those under 19 years old—both measures are currently halted as legal challenges are being debated in court.
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