In a landmark development announced Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed that the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has agreed to adopt a biology-based definition of gender for athletic participation, aligning itself with President Donald Trump’s Title IX directives. The move stems from a federal investigation into the school’s handling of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed on the women’s team during the 2021–22 season.
UPenn’s new agreement mandates several sweeping changes, including:
- Restoring individual records and titles to female athletes that were awarded to Thomas.
- Issuing a public statement committing to compliance with Title IX, explicitly barring biological males from women’s sports or facilities.
- Updating all policies and websites to reflect biology-based gender definitions.
- Rescinding prior guidance inconsistent with Title IX.
- Sending personal apologies to each impacted female swimmer.
Federal Investigation and Backlash
The Education Department launched an investigation on Feb. 6 amid accusations that UPenn violated Title IX by allowing a biological male to compete in the women’s swimming division. According to the Office of Civil Rights, the university’s policies led to discrimination against its female athletes.
This resolution follows Trump’s executive orders, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” and “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon applauded UPenn’s compliance, calling it a “great victory for women and girls.”
Former Athletes React
Paula Scanlan, one of Thomas’ former teammates, expressed gratitude:
“Today marks a momentous step toward repairing the past mistreatment of female athletes and forging a future where sex discrimination no longer limits girls’ potential.”
Three other former swimmers filed a lawsuit against UPenn in early February, alleging that administrators referred dissenting voices to the university’s LGBTQ center and downplayed their concerns.
Notably, Trump’s administration froze $175 million in federal funding to UPenn on March 20, citing non-compliance. That pressure culminated in April, when federal investigators concluded that UPenn had, indeed, violated Title IX.
UPenn: A Cultural and Political Flashpoint
The Lia Thomas controversy and subsequent NCAA title win in 2022 have remained a cultural lightning rod. Conservative activist Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas at that championship, believes the incident helped shape the 2024 election.
“We should send a thank-you note to people like Will Thomas… I believe he handed us the election,” Gaines said.
A Concerned Women for America poll found that 70% of moderate voters said transgender participation in women’s sports was an important issue, 44% said it was “very important.”
As debates over gender identity and athletics intensify nationwide, the UPenn case now stands as a blueprint for how institutions may be forced to respond to Title IX challenges under a potential second Trump presidency.
Read More: UFC 317 Star Disses Trump with Latino Message After Win
