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5d ago

Trump Administration Orders UPenn to Address Title IX Violations Over Trans Athlete Participation

The university has 10 days to comply with federal demands to restore women's athletic records, issue apologies, and ban transgender women from women's sports or face DOJ referral and funding cuts.

Mar 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas swims the 100 free at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at Georgia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
FILE - University of Pennsylvania signage is seen in Philadelphia, May 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Trans swimmer Lia Thomas received a wave of abuse after she competed in a women's competition in 2021. (Getty)
United States Department of Education logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Overview

  • The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) ruled that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete in women’s sports and use women-only facilities.
  • OCR has given UPenn 10 days to comply with a resolution agreement, which includes restoring athletic records, titles, and awards to female athletes and issuing apology letters to those affected.
  • The Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to UPenn in March 2025 over its decision to allow Thomas to compete, citing noncompliance with federal civil rights laws.
  • The university faces the possibility of a referral to the Department of Justice for enforcement proceedings and further funding cuts if it fails to meet the compliance deadline.
  • This case marks a significant escalation in the administration's efforts to enforce new Title IX policies, which ban transgender women from participating in women's sports and have sparked broader debates on gender identity and competitive fairness.