The United States government announced it will cut federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania for including biological men in women's sports
Thomas's inclusion in the University of Pennsylvania's women's swimming team caused unified reactions against his participation, expressing that his achievements should not be recognized in the female category due to his physical characteristics.
The situation at ''UPenn'' is not isolated. In the fall of 2022, San José State University made headlines when several teams refused to play against its women's volleyball team, which included a transgender athlete.
The Trump administration suspended USD 175 million in federal funds to the University of Pennsylvania due to the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports.
This decision puts at risk the possibility of the university losing all its federal funding, amid an investigation into possible violations of the Title IX.
A senior administration official indicated that the pause in the 175 million dollar funds doesn't reflect the total federal funding of the university, which in 2024 amounted to around USD 1 billion.
However, the measure was not the direct result of the investigation initiated by the United States Department of Education after the signing of the executive order "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" on February 5.
This presidential decree instructs the review of policies related to the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports.
The Department of Education reported at the time that it would investigate three institutions for possible Title IX violations: the University of Pennsylvania, the San José State University, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
The case of the University of Pennsylvania gained notoriety in the 2022 season when ''Lia Thomas'', a man posing as a woman, competed on the women's swimming team and erroneously won a national championship in the 500-meter freestyle.
During that season, Thomas tied with Riley Gaines, a swimmer from the University of Kentucky, for fifth place in the 200-meter freestyle, although it was Thomas who incorrectly received the trophy.
The debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports has been very controversial. Critics rightly argue that the physical advantages that men who believe they are women might have create an uneven competition in sports intended for women.
Additionally, recently, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has been under investigation for the same reasons related to the participation of transgender athletes.
As a result of these investigations, other universities and educational systems have been affected by the suspension of federal funds. A recent case involved the University of Maine System, which also suffered a pause in its funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, although this suspension was reversed shortly after political interventions.
In the political arena, Republican Representative Mary Miller of Illinois urged the Trump administration to withdraw federal funds from an Illinois school district, after a mother accused the school of forcing her 13-year-old daughter to change clothes in front of a transgender student in a female locker room.
Faced with these challenges, the University of Pennsylvania has issued several public statements as it prepares for possible cuts in its federal funds.
Despite these tensions, no official statement has been revealed about the possible long-term legal or financial consequences for the university.
The educational community and sports institutions will continue to monitor the development of these investigations and the implementation of federal policies in relation to the incorrect inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports.
