The University of Pennsylvania will no longer allow transgender athletes to compete on its women’s sports teams, following a federal civil rights settlement tied to the controversy surrounding swimmer Lia Thomas, the U.S. government announced Tuesday.
In a statement, the Department of Education said UPenn entered a resolution agreement pledging compliance with Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in educational programs.
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The move comes after the department’s Office for Civil Rights determined that the university violated Title IX by allowing Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete in women’s events during the 2021–2022 season.
Background and Federal Action
President Donald Trump, who has prioritized banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports since returning to office, issued an executive order in February. The order enables federal agencies to withhold funding from schools that do not define sex based on birth-assigned gender.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the UPenn resolution as a “great victory for women and girls”, emphasizing that the Department of Education will continue enforcing Title IX “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Settlement Terms
As part of the agreement, UPenn will:
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Restore all records and titles to female swimmers affected by Thomas’s participation
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Send individual letters of apology to each impacted athlete
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Publicly affirm that males will not be permitted to compete in female sports or access women’s athletic facilities, such as locker rooms
Lia Thomas and the National Debate
Lia Thomas became a central figure in the national debate over transgender athletes after competing in women’s collegiate swimming in 2022, following her time on UPenn’s men’s team while undergoing hormone therapy. Critics cited her physical advantage, while supporters argued she had a right to compete as a woman.
Among her vocal critics is fellow swimmer Riley Gaines, who tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA championships. Gaines praised the decision, stating:
“It is my hope that today demonstrates to educational institutions that they will no longer be allowed to trample upon women’s civil rights, and renews hope in every female athlete that their country’s highest leadership will not relent until they have the dignity, safety, and fairness they deserve.”
This decision marks a significant shift in college athletics and is likely to impact how schools across the country handle policies surrounding transgender athletes.
