Trump administration pauses $175 million in federal funding to UPenn over transgender athlete policies

By lauraharris // 2025-03-25

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The Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) due to its policy allowing transgender athletes, including swimmer Lia Thomas, to compete in women's sports. This action aligns with a February executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female sports, citing fairness and safety concerns.
The funding pause is part of a broader review of federal funding streams by the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services, not directly tied to a Title IX investigation. UPenn is among several institutions facing scrutiny over transgender athlete policies.
Other institutions, such as San Jose State University and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), are under investigation for potential Title IX violations related to transgender athlete inclusion, reflecting tensions between state and federal policies.
The USDA briefly paused funding to the University of Maine System over similar concerns, though it was quickly restored after intervention by Sen. Susan Collins. This incident highlights the political and financial implications of the debate over transgender inclusion in sports.
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) urged the Trump administration to withdraw funding from an Illinois school district after a parent alleged her daughter was forced to change in front of a transgender student, sparking debates over privacy rights and federal enforcement of Title IX protections.

The Trump administration has announced that it will pause $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. The announcement was made on March 19 in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "BREAKING: The Trump Administration has "paused $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania" over its policies forcing women to compete with men in sports. Promises made, promises kept," Rapid Response 47 posted. The Trump administration accused the university of allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete on the women's swim team and became the first transgender woman to win a 2022 NCAA swimming championship. However, a senior White House official clarified that the pause is not a result of the Title IX investigation launched by the Department of Education. Instead, the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services are withholding discretionary funding to the university as part of a broader review of federal funding streams. In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The order, which referred to transgender women as "men," argued that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports is "demeaning, unfair and dangerous to women and girls" and deprives them of equal opportunities. It also mandates the withdrawal of federal funds from educational programs that fail to ensure "fair athletic opportunities" for women and girls.

Trump admin launches probes over alleged Title IX violations

UPenn is not alone in its predicament. For instance, San Jose State University, which made headlines last fall after several schools refused to compete against its women's volleyball team due to the inclusion of a transgender athlete on the roster, is now under investigation for potential Title IX violations. Similarly, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), which governs high school sports in Massachusetts, is also being scrutinized for its policies regarding transgender athletes. The investigations highlight the growing tension between state-level policies supporting transgender inclusion and federal enforcement of Title IX protections. In a separate but related development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) briefly paused federal funding to the University of Maine System, a network of eight public colleges, this March. (Related: Trump clashes with Maine governor over transgender athletes, threatens federal FUNDING CUTS.) The freeze, which was reversed days later following intervention by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), raised questions about the potential withholding of federal funds from institutions that adopt policies supporting transgender students. Collins' office confirmed that the funding had been restored, but the incident underscored the broader political and financial stakes of the ongoing debate. Meanwhile, Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) has called on the Trump administration to withdraw federal funding from an Illinois school district after a parent alleged that her 13-year-old daughter was forced to change in front of a transgender student in the girls' locker room. The mother's complaint, which has sparked outrage among conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups, accuses the district of violating students' privacy rights. Watch this clip of President Donald Trump signing his new EO that bans transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports.

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Trump admin launches probes over alleged Title IX violations

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