Overview

• USA Fencing Chairman Damien Lehfeldt testified before the House Oversight Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee, emphasizing the organization's legal obligations under the Ted Stevens Act.
• The organization has adopted a contingent policy to ban transgender women from women’s events if Congress amends the law to allow such restrictions.
• Stephanie Turner, whose protest against a transgender competitor in March led to her disqualification, told Congress she faced harassment and felt unwelcome, prompting her to step away from fencing.
• Lehfeldt clarified that USA Fencing cannot currently ban transgender athletes without violating federal law but would comply with any future legislative changes.
• A social media post by Lehfeldt, showing him making an obscene gesture before the hearing, drew criticism and added to the controversy surrounding the policy debate.