Trump admin takes action against Upenn for violating executive order
The Trump administration has frozen $175 million in taxpayer funding to UPenn after the school defied the president’s executive order by continuing to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
The funding accounts for nearly one-fifth of the Ivy League university’s total federal funding from last year, which was distributed through the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, a senior White House official confirmed to The Post.
“UPenn infamously permitted a male to compete on its women’s swimming team, overturning multiple records hard-earned by women, and granting the fully intact male access to the locker room,” the official stated.
The official added that the administration is taking “immediate proactive action to review discretionary funding streams” for universities that violate the executive order.
“Promises made, promises kept,” the White House’s rapid response account posted on X Wednesday.
The funding freeze was first reported by FOX Business.
UPenn responds to federal funding freeze
A UPenn spokesperson said that the university had not yet received any official notification regarding the funding pause.
“Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams,” the spokesperson said.
The representative further emphasized that the school remains in full compliance with all applicable NCAA and Ivy League regulations.
UPenn received approximately $1 billion in federal funds in 2024, but more taxpayer dollars may be at risk as the Trump administration’s Department of Education investigates potential Title IX violations at the school.
Trump’s executive order banning trans athletes in women’s sports
President Donald Trump, 78, signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” on February 5, before launching investigations into universities violating the new rule.
UPenn became a flashpoint in the debate over transgender athletes when one of its male swimmers transitioned and joined the women’s team, ultimately winning an NCAA Division I title.
Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, won the women’s 500-yard freestyle event after transitioning before the 2022 season.
Thomas also tied for fifth place in the 200 freestyle against University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has since become a vocal critic of trans inclusion in women’s sports.
“Three years ago to the day I raced and tied a man at the DI NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle,” Gaines posted on X Wednesday.
“Today, the Trump administration paused $175M in federal funding to University of Pennsylvania for this reason. Serendipitous.”
Other universities are also under investigation
The Department of Education is also investigating San Jose State University for allowing a trans volleyball player to compete in women’s sports.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association is under scrutiny for potentially violating federal sex-based nondiscrimination laws.
The move by Trump administration officials comes after the president also targeted universities in Maine for possible Title IX violations.
Last month, Trump launched an investigation that could result in Maine schools losing $250 million in annual federal funding.
During a governors’ summit at the White House in February, Trump criticized Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills for her transgender athletic policies.
“You better comply! Because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding,” Trump told Mills.
Mills fired back, saying:
“See you in court!”
