Education Secretary’s Insights on Women’s Sports Policy

In a recent conversation, Education Secretary Linda McMahon discussed a contract with the University of Pennsylvania, describing it as a pivotal step toward change in women’s sports. The agreement comes after the Trump administration suspended $175 million in federal funds to the university, following conflicts between school policies and an executive order that blocks biological men from competing in women’s events. This agreement specifically required the university to rescind the records of transgender athlete Leah Thomas while she participated in women’s competitions.

McMahon expressed hope that this agreement could serve as a model for other educational institutions at both the university and K-12 levels, emphasizing the importance of such compliance in broader contexts.

Ria Thomas, a transgender athlete, was part of the 2022 NCAA Championship, where her performance in the 500-yard women’s final set a notable victory. Riley Gaines, who also competed in the same event, finished fifth in the 200-meter freestyle at the national championships.

According to a White House official, the university is mandated to send personalized apology letters to the female swimmers affected by these policies, although the agreement does not specify Thomas by name.

Beyond this, the university stated that it remains compliant with Title IX policies, asserting no men will compete in women’s athletic programs or utilize women’s facilities at Penn Athletics. McMahon noted that negotiations with the university were extensive, as they recognized the seriousness of the $175 million financial impact.

“They understood we meant business,” McMahon commented, pleased with the eventual outcome of the discussions.

The university’s statement also confirmed its commitment to a biologically based definition of “male” and “female,” aligning this with Title IX regulations and emphasizing the need to combat what they termed “gender ideological extremism,” which they believe has resulted in the exclusion of women from their sports.

Additionally, the administration is calling for the revocation of any guidance that contradicts Title IX, encouraging modifications to internal documents to ensure consistency with these regulations.

In its response to the agreement, the University of Pennsylvania reiterated its aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment while stressing the importance of its educational mission. McMahon also relayed that Trump has consistently emphasized the significance of keeping men out of women’s sports, citing a specific incident involving Riley Gaines and Leah Thomas as a clear example of unfairness.

“He’ll often refer back to those moments, highlighting it as a fundamental issue,” McMahon said, reiterating that Trump’s commitment to this cause has been unwavering since the signing of the executive order on February 5th.