'Keeping men out': Trump bans trans athletes from women's sports
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
The directive, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," calls for immediate implementation and directs federal agencies to interpret Title IX rules as excluding transgender girls and women from female sports categories.
"The war on women's sports is over..My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes," Trump said at the signing ceremony.
Funding threat
Order threatens funding cut for non-compliant schools
The executive order also threatens to cut off federal funding for schools allowing trans women/girls to compete in female-designated sports.
The order would affect only a small number of athletes. National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) president noted that fewer than 10 trans athletes currently compete among 520,000 athletes at 1,100 member schools.
The White House expects sports bodies like the NCAA to change their rules accordingly.
Advocacy response
Advocacy groups express concern over trans rights
Athlete Ally, an advocacy group, voiced concern over the effect of this order on trans youth.
The group said: "Our hearts break for the trans youth who will no longer be able to know the joy of playing sports as their full and authentic selves."
Polls show that the majority of Americans oppose transgender athletes engaging in sports that align with their gender identity. So far, 25 Republican-led states have approved legislation prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.
Past actions
Trump's previous actions targeting transgender rights
This order is the latest in Trump's war on transgender rights. Earlier, he had signed orders defining sex as male or female based on reproductive cells and banning gender transition for under-19s.
A White House official said the US will use "all of our authority and our ability" to enforce the order in Olympic events.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles.