Education Secretary Linda McMahon unveiled a significant development in the ongoing battle against transgender inclusion in women’s sports on Tuesday, as the University of Pennsylvania agreed to a resolution with the Trump administration regarding its handling of swimmer Lia Thomas’s case. The agreement, which represents a major step in enforcing Title IX compliance, mandates that the university implement strict policies to exclude transgender athletes from women’s sports and issue apologies to the female athletes who were impacted by the situation.
McMahon, who has been closely following the case since it first gained national attention in 2022, expressed her concerns about the unfairness of Lia Thomas’s competition against Riley Gaines, a prominent conservative activist and dental student. McMahon recalled how she was shocked by the outcome, noting that Gaines ‘should have walked away with that’ despite tying with Thomas in one of the championship events. She emphasized the importance of protecting women’s sports and the need for all girls and women to have access to role models like Gaines and other female athletes who have faced similar challenges.
The resolution follows an investigation by the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights, which concluded that UPenn violated Title IX by failing to properly address Thomas’s presence in the women’s swimming competition. As part of the resolution, the university will now be required to implement a strict policy that keeps trans athletes out of women’s sports. Additionally, the university will issue apologies to all the female athletes who have been affected by the situation.
McMahon’s work doesn’t end with UPenn, as the Trump administration continues to push for compliance with Title IX across the country. The administration is currently involved in a legal battle with the state of Maine, as well as states like California and Minnesota, over the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports. McMahon hopes that the UPenn resolution will serve as a warning to these states, emphasizing that the law must be followed.
On the same day that the UPenn resolution was announced, the Education Department also launched an investigation into San Jose State University over its handling of former transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming, who was involved in a nationwide scandal during the 2024 season. This investigation is ongoing, and McMahon has stated that her department will continue to address any violations of Title IX at other institutions.
McMahon’s efforts reflect a broader corporate strategy to protect women’s sports and maintain the integrity of athletic competitions. By enforcing strict policies and taking legal action against institutions that fail to comply, the administration aims to ensure that female athletes are not disadvantaged by the presence of male athletes in their competitions. The situation highlights the complex political and social landscape surrounding transgender inclusion in sports, with significant implications for both the athletes and the institutions involved.