The Trump administration has frozen $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), citing the university’s adherence to policies allowing trans-identifying women to compete in women’s sports.
The decision follows an executive order from President Donald Trump, which pledges to prevent biological males from competing in female athletic categories.
A post on X by Trump’s rapid response communications team reportedly stated, “Promises made, promises kept,” sharing a Fox Business report about the financial action against UPenn.
UPenn officials responded by stating that they have yet to receive official notification from the administration regarding the freeze.
A spokesperson told Newsweek, “It is important to note, however, that Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams. We have been in the past, and remain today, in full compliance with the regulations that apply to not only Penn, but all of our NCAA and Ivy League peer institutions.”
The move underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing policies that prevent trans-identifying women from participating in women’s sports.
Trump’s stance is based on the argument that allowing trans-identifying women to compete undermines competitive fairness and poses safety risks to female athletes. However, Newsweek stated that the decision is expected to face legal challenges from civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that such measures constitute discrimination.
They maintain that trans-identifying women have the right to compete in accordance with their gender identity and that restricting their participation violates anti-discrimination laws.
Newsweek reported that Fox Business cited a senior administration official who described the funding action as “just a taste” of what could come for UPenn.
The official stated that the university remains at risk of losing all federal funding over its compliance with NCAA policies that permitted trans-identifying swimmer Lia Thomas to compete on the women’s team and use women’s facilities, including locker rooms.
The funding freeze targets discretionary funds from the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The impact could be widespread, potentially affecting research initiatives, academic programs, and student support services reliant on federal grants.
Newsweek reported that the decision to freeze UPenn’s funding aligns with Trump’s executive order signed on Feb. 5, titled: “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order states that “many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports,” calling the practice “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous.”
The order further references Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which guarantees women equal opportunity in sports at federally funded institutions.
Trump’s directive argues that policies allowing trans-identifying women to compete in women’s categories deprive biological females of fair competition, safety, and privacy.
“Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs 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 order states, per Newsweek.
