Finally! Penn will erase trans athlete's records. But are they just biding time?
President Donald Trump has been on quite the winning streak. That includes major wins in the liberal bastion of American academia.
Not bad for a Republican president.
From a rollback of the diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucracy to accountability for antisemitism on campus, Trump has not wasted time in going after the worst aspects of modern higher education.
And university leaders are paying attention, given the Trump administration's threat to withhold federal funding to schools that don't comply.
The latest victory is against the University of Pennsylvania, which in recent years has been in the hot seat for both its lackluster response to antisemitism as well as its decision to allow transgender athletes to compete on women's sports teams.
From the moment he stepped foot back in the Oval Office, Trump has been committed to bringing sanity back to women's sports and spaces. He promised to undo the damage of former President Joe Biden's disastrous Title IX rewrite and executive orders that prioritized gender identity over biological sex.
Trump is right: Transgender athletes turn girls' track meets into a farce | Opinion
Penn has agreed to not only prohibit transgender athletes from women's sports, but it is also righting its past wrongs.
Penn's mea culpa is a welcome outcome for female athletes
This all began in 2022, when Penn swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win a NCAA Division I title. Thomas set many other school records, after joining the women's team following three seasons on the men's team.
It's the case that really sparked the movement of women fighting for fairness in female sports. In the past three years, athletes like Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan have become famous for being outspoken about their time with Thomas and how it affected them.
Their bravery encouraged other women and supporters to stand up as well, and Trump started to pay attention.
Opinion: With Mamdani, Democrats flirt with full-tilt socialism. But his plan is alarming.
On Feb. 6, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights began its investigation into Penn and why it allowed Thomas to compete on the women's team and share women's locker rooms.
Scanlan, who was one of Thomas' teammates, testified before Congress that the university offered psychological services to 'reeducate' women athletes who were uncomfortable 'undressing in front of a male.'
The department found in April that Penn had violated Title IX, and Penn entered a resolution agreement July 1 with the Trump administration.
As stated in an Education Department news release, among other things, Penn must:
This is great news for women's sports. But will it last?
'Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women's sports are protected at the University for future generations of female athletes,' U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
I hope McMahon is right and that future generations of women are protected by Trump's actions.
Yet, Trump has relied on executive orders to make his stand for women and female athletes. Those orders could easily be overturned by the next Democratic president. Federal courts have blocked Biden's changes to Title IX's definition of sex, but Trump should actively work with Congress to ensure the protections for women are clear in law.
Opinion: Supreme Court rightly allows states to hit brakes on gender meddling for kids
So far, Senate Democrats have blocked legislation that would protect women permanently. That's a shame, not only for women but also for Democrats, who can't seem to understand that the vast majority of the country is opposed to biological males competing in women's sports.
My fear is that universities like Penn are biding their time, doing what they must during Trump's term but planning to go right back to their old ways once he leaves.
In the meantime, I'll celebrate this win for women – and for Team Common Sense.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
5 minutes ago
- The Hill
Israeli strikes kill 15 in Gaza, while shootings kill 20 people waiting for aid
DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza early on Friday, while another 20 people died in shootings while waiting for aid, the hospital morgue that received their bodies told The Associated Press. At least 15 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including eight women and one child. Another 20 were shot while waiting for aid, according to Nasser Hospital, including two who were killed near distribution sites in Rafah and 18 who were waiting for trucks to deliver supplies elsewhere in southern Gaza. The recent killings took place as efforts to halt the 21-month war appeared to be moving forward. Hamas said Friday that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions to discuss a ceasefire proposal presented to it by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. Hamas will give its final response to mediators after the discussions have concluded, the statement said. The Health Ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in the territory has passed 57,000. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says more than half of the dead are women and children. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. According to Palestinian witnesses and Gaza's Health Ministry, several hundred people have been killed or wounded by Israeli troops when trying to reach the aid sites since they opened in May. The military has repeatedly said it's fired only warning shots, denies deliberately firing towards civilians, and says it's looking into reports of civilian harm. ___ Kullab reported from Jerusalem.
Newsweek
6 minutes ago
- Newsweek
'Free America' Anti-Trump Protests Expand Across Nation For 4th of July
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hundreds of "Free America" demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his administration are planned nationwide on July 4. The protests are being organized by the same group behind the Women's March, with the stated goal being to "Free America from the grip of hate and the politics of fear." They are taking the form of various community gatherings, including block parties, banner drops, barbecues, and dance events. Nichole Geibel, a 'Free America' protest organizer in Ohio, and Co-Chair of the North Ridgeville Democrats, told Newsweek: "The motivation behind this event is the growing frustration so many Americans have with the policies at the federal and state levels that infringe on our fundamental rights and take choice away from all of us and our communities. We believe that freedom of speech, personal autonomy and accountability in government are always important and always need to be fought for." Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment via email. A protester waves an upside down American flag in front of the Capitol, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Washington. A protester waves an upside down American flag in front of the Capitol, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo Why It Matters These protests come only a few weeks after the "No Kings" nationwide demonstrations, which were the largest anti-Trump gathering since his inauguration in January. The demonstrations also come just one day after Trump's sprawling tax and spending bill, known as the "Big Beautiful Bill", was passed by the House of Representatives What To Know The "Free America" organizers are calling attention to several aspects of the Trump administration, including the growing wealth disparity in America and mass layoffs enacted across the federal government. Geibel told Newsweek: "We want our elected officials to see that we're paying attention. We want them to know that their constituents understand that freedom and individual rights are being stripped away from all of us, and we expect them to represent us and our rights. Our hope is they'll listen more, restrict less, remember who they work for and remember that America is not a fascist nation." There are currently 264 "Free America" protests planned across Republican and Democratic states, including Florida, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina. The protests have grown since June 30, when 170 demonstrations were listed on the organization's site. The number of protests is still a great deal smaller than the roughly 1,800 "No Kings" protests that took place on June 14. Organizers say the language of "freedom" reflects the symbolism of the July 4 holiday, which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Speaking to how protests have grown in size throughout the first months of the Trump administration, Geibel said: "We have been protesting weekly [in Lorain County, Ohio] since March. Our protest group has grown exponentially since March and our local democratic community meetings have seen an increase in attendance this year also. The people in Lorain County Ohio are not giving up on the fight for democracy." Protesters demonstrate against the policies of President Donald Trump during a No Kings rally, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. Protesters demonstrate against the policies of President Donald Trump during a No Kings rally, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo What People Are Saying Nichole Geibel, a 'Free America' protest organizer in Ohio told Newsweek: "We hope people feel less alone and more connected with others who want to take peaceful, meaningful action. It's about showing up, using our voices, and reminding ourselves that democracy only works when everyday people participate and stand up for what they believe in. As Rep. John Lewis once said 'Never be afraid to make some noise and get into good trouble, necessary trouble.' We want people to leave feeling empowered and not be afraid to speak up for themselves and for this country." Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, posted on X in response to Trump's Big Beautiful Bill passing the House before July 4: "The most incredible opening 6 months to an American presidency in history." What Happens Next The demonstrations are planned nationwide for July 4.
Fox News
7 minutes ago
- Fox News
Trump pitches plan allowing farmers to vouch for illegal immigrant workers facing deportation
The Trump administration plans to implement a process whereby farmers in Iowa can vouch for hard-working, law-abiding migrant farmworkers who may be facing deportation, so that they can remain in the U.S. The proposed process was shared by President Donald Trump during an event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday night, kicking off a year of patriotic celebrations meant to honor the nation's 250th birthday. Trump said the new plan will take place in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and that legislation for the measure is currently being drafted, while speaking Thursday evening from Iowa. "You know, they've had people working for them for years. And we're going to do something … we're going to sort of put the farmers in charge," Trump told the crowd of people in attendance. "If a farmer has been with one of these people that worked so hard – they bend over all day, we don't have too many people that can do that, but they work very hard, and they know him very well, and some of the farmers are literally, you know, they cry when they see this happen – if a farmer is willing to vouch for these people, in some way, Kristie, I think we're going to have to just say that's going to be good, right?" "We don't want to do [border security] where we take all of the workers off the farms," Trump added. "We want the farms to do great." According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Iowa is the nation's second-largest agricultural exporting state. While announcing the new plan, Trump cited cases he had heard of when migrants who have worked on farms for 15 years "get thrown out pretty viciously." "We can't do that," Trump added. "We got to work with the farmers and people that have hotels and leisure properties." Earlier this week, when Trump previously hinted at the new immigration exemption for farmers, he also suggested the move could be implemented for workers in the hospitality industry, as well. While sharing the new immigration proposal with the crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday night, Trump spoke to potential criticisms of the move by "serious radical-right people" within the GOP, asking the crowd rhetorically if they think these folks "will understand." After the president first brought up the proposal earlier this week, critics have already started sounding off. "So, if I'm to understand this correctly, we should look the other way regarding illegal immigration as long as it's in the construction, hotel, or restaurant industries? This is far beyond disappointing, it's infuriating," California Republican state Sen. Melissa Melendez wrote on X. The president noted Thursday evening that the move will put farmers "in charge" and ultimately the responsibility for any problems that arise will fall to their feet. "If the farmers don't do a good job, we'll throw them the hell out of the country. We'll let the guys – we'll let the illegals stay, and we'll throw the farmers the hell out," Trump said. "Okay, get ready, farmer, I'm telling you."
