Photo: Alamy
The University of Pennsylvania reached an agreement Tuesday with the Department of Education to resolve a Title IX violation over its handling of transgender athlete Lia Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming, marking a policy victory for President Donald Trump.
The agreement follows a review of events surrounding Thomas’ win in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Division I Championship. At the time, Thomas competed under NCAA guidelines. However, the Department of Education, under the Trump administration, determined that the university had failed to protect the rights of female athletes.
“The University will not—on the basis of sex—exclude female students from participation in, deny female students the benefits of, or subject female students to discrimination under, any athletics programs,” the school’s statement noted.
“In addition, in providing to female student-athletes intimate facilities such as locker rooms and bathrooms in connection with Penn Athletics, such facilities shall be strictly separated on the basis of sex and comparably provided to each sex,” it continued.
The issue came under renewed scrutiny after Trump’s February executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which mandates biology-based definitions for male and female categories in education and athletics.
As part of the resolution, UPenn will issue an apology to the female athletes who competed alongside Thomas, restore any titles or records and post a public statement affirming its compliance with Title IX and relevant executive orders. The university must also remove or revise any documentation that conflicts with the administration’s directive.
“This Administration does not just pay lip service to women’s equality: it vigorously insists on that equality being upheld,” said Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who tied with Thomas for fifth place in a championship event. Gaines, once supportive of Thomas’ participation, has since become a leading voice in defense of single-sex athletics.
“It is my hope that today demonstrates to educational institutions that they will no longer be allowed to trample upon women’s civil rights,” Gaines said, “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.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the department intends to pursue further enforcement efforts.
“Today’s resolution agreement with UPenn is yet another example of the Trump effect in action,” McMahon said. “The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law.”
