The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender women from its women’s sports teams, resolving a federal civil rights investigation centered on former swimmer Lia Thomas. The U.S. Department of Education announced the voluntary agreement Tuesday, stating that Penn violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete in women’s events during the 2021–2022 season.
As part of the resolution, Penn will reinstate Division I swimming records and titles to athletes displaced by Thomas’s victories and issue personalized apology letters to each of them, per the Department of Education. The university must adopt “biology-based” definitions of male and female in athletics and publicly commit to barring “males from competing in female athletic programs.” Penn and the NCAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Context
The agreement marks a significant development in the Trump administration’s broader campaign to restrict transgender participation in women’s sports. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the outcome a “victory for women and girls,” signaling a more aggressive federal stance on enforcing Title IX based on biological sex.
The case has reignited national debate over fairness in women’s athletics, transgender rights, and the scope of federal civil rights protections. It also sets a precedent for how schools may be required to handle similar cases under current federal leadership.
What To Know
The Education Department launched its investigation in February 2025. In April, it concluded that Penn’s decision to allow Thomas to compete violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education.
Under the resolution, according to the Department of Education:
- Penn will restore swimming records and titles to female athletes displaced by Thomas.
- The university will send personalized apology letters to those athletes.
- It must adopt biology-based definitions of sex in athletics.
- It must be publicly stated that males will not be allowed to compete in female sports programs.
Why is the University of Pennsylvania Banning Transgender Athletes?
The University of Pennsylvania agreed to ban transgender women from its women’s sports teams as part of a voluntary resolution with the U.S. Department of Education. The department found that Penn violated Title IX—a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination—by allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete in women’s events in 2022.
The agreement follows a broader push by the Trump administration to enforce “biology-based” definitions of sex in education and athletics. Under these terms, Penn must restore records of female athletes displaced by Thomas, issue apology letters, and publicly commit to barring biologically male athletes from female sports programs.
Who Is Lia Thomas?
Lia Thomas is a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship. Born in 1999 in Austin, Texas, Thomas began swimming competitively at a young age and joined Penn’s men’s swim team in 2017. After meeting NCAA eligibility requirements, she began hormone replacement therapy in 2019 and transitioned to the women’s team for the 2021–2022 season.
Thomas’s participation in women’s swimming sparked national debate over fairness in athletics and the inclusion of transgender athletes. While she received support from Penn and the Ivy League, her success drew criticism and legal challenges from athletes and advocacy groups.
Lia Thomas: Records and Accolades
During her time on the women’s team, Thomas achieved several milestones:
- In March 2022, she won the NCAA Division I title in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:33.24, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to do so.
- She also placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle at the same championship.
- Thomas held three of the six individual freestyle records for Penn women’s swimming and diving as of 2022.
Although she did not break NCAA records, her performances were among the top in the nation that season. Her titles and records are now under review as part of the federal agreement with Penn, though it remains unclear whether the NCAA will formally strip her of those honors.
What People Are Saying
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a statement on Tuesday, said: “The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law.”
Riley Gaines, host of the Gaines for Girls podcast on OutKick.com and former University of Kentucky swimmer, to Newsweek: “From day one, President Trump and Secretary McMahon made it clear that protecting women and girls is a top priority—and today’s agreement with UPenn is proof of that commitment in action.”
Gaines added: “This Administration isn’t just talking about women’s equality, but instead actively defending it. I hope this sends a clear message to educational institutions: you can no longer disregard women’s civil rights. And to every female athlete, know this: your dignity, safety, and fairness matter, and our nation’s leaders will not stop fighting for them.”
Paula Scanlan, former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, in a statement: “As a former UPenn swimmer who had to compete against and share a locker room with a male athlete, I am deeply grateful to the Trump Administration for refusing to back down on protecting women and girls and restoring our rightful accolades. I am also pleased that my alma mater has finally agreed to take not only the lawful path, but the honorable one.
“Today marks a momentous step in repairing the past mistreatment of female athletes, and forging a future where sex discrimination plays no role in limiting girls’ potential.”
What Happens Next
The agreement pressures other universities and athletic organizations to align with the administration’s interpretation of Title IX. The NCAA’s response, or lack thereof, could shape future legal and policy battles over transgender inclusion in sports.
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