The Trump administration threatens legal action against states defying the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order as female athletes like Riley Gaines demand prosecution of officials who allow biological males to compete against women.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon high school track star Alexa Anderson sparked controversy by refusing to stand on a podium with a transgender athlete, launching a legal battle against the state’s trans-inclusive policy.
- Riley Gaines and other female athletes have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking both policy changes and monetary damages for allowing biological males in women’s sports.
- The Trump administration has taken significant action, including freezing funding to universities and investigating high school sports leagues in multiple Democrat-led states that continue to allow transgender athletes in female competitions.
- Activists are calling for criminal prosecution of officials who knowingly defy the executive order, with attorney William Bock supporting legal action against those violating federal law.
- Despite the executive order being signed months ago, states including California, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington continue to follow their own state laws permitting transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Female Athletes Take a Stand Against Transgender Competition
Oregon high school track star Alexa Anderson has become the latest female athlete to publicly protest transgender participation in women’s sports. During a medal ceremony, Anderson and fellow athlete Reese Eckard refused to stand on the podium next to transgender student Liaa Rose, who placed fifth in the competition. The protesting athletes stood behind the podium instead, prompting an official to allegedly tell them to “step aside” and “get out” of the photos. This act of defiance has now escalated into a formal legal battle against Oregon’s transgender athlete policies.
“I just didn’t think that it’s fair to biological females to allow and encourage biological males to compete among us, not only for myself and the other girl that stepped down, but the girl who should have been on the podium and the girl who didn’t even get to go to state because she was beaten by a biological male at districts,” said Alexa Anderson.
Trump Administration Takes Aggressive Action
Four months after President Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, his administration has begun forcefully implementing the measure across the country. The Department of Education has launched investigations against high school sports leagues in California, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, while also freezing federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania and filing a lawsuit against the state of Maine. California has been given a specific deadline to amend its policies or face significant federal consequences, including potential loss of funding.
“I think that if schools, official states, whatever it is, are knowingly defying the law and violating Title IX especially by forcing girls to share locker rooms, change in front of boys, lose out on their opportunities, everything Title IX is supposed to stand for, I think there should be serious consequences,” said Kaitlynn Wheeler.
Despite these actions, several Democrat-led states including California, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington continue to defy the federal order, adhering to their own state laws that permit transgender athletes to compete in categories aligning with their gender identity rather than biological sex. This defiance has created a growing legal standoff between federal and state authorities over women’s sports participation rules.
Calls for Criminal Prosecution of Non-Compliant Officials
Former NCAA swimmers Riley Gaines and Kylee Alons, along with attorney William Bock, are advocating for criminal charges against officials who permit transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Gaines, who famously competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA women’s championships, has become one of the most vocal advocates for protecting women’s sports. She and several co-plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking not only policy changes but also monetary damages for affected female athletes.
“I would love to see prosecution because I believe what is happening is criminal. The way that we have been told that a man’s feelings matter more than our physical safety, than our rights to participate, to call ourselves champions, I believe that is a criminal action, therefore I believe it is a criminal offense,” said Riley Gaines.
The lawsuit specifically targets the NCAA’s revised gender eligibility policy, which critics argue lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms. This criticism was bolstered when a transgender athlete recently participated in a Division III rowing competition at Ithaca College, with the NCAA attributing the incident to a “misunderstanding” and indicating no consequences would follow. Gaines has specifically called for prosecution of Georgia Tech’s president for allowing transgender athletes to compete against women.
The Legal Path Forward
The America First Policy Institute has filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education to investigate the Oregon Department of Education’s policies on transgender athletes. Attorney Jessica Steinmann, representing Alexa Anderson, has highlighted that female athletes are losing medals, scholarships, and economic opportunities to biological males. This legal action follows similar controversies in other states, including a recent incident in California where transgender athlete AB Hernandez won two state titles competing against female competitors.
“When you see the harm that this is causing women and girls, how could you not want to support prosecuting defying this?” said Kylee Alons.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has suggested that prosecution remains on the table for those who violate the executive order. Attorney William Bock supports this approach, arguing that officials knowingly defying federal law should face legal consequences, especially given that the executive order has been in place for several months. As these legal battles intensify across multiple fronts, the future of transgender participation in women’s sports appears headed for a decisive confrontation in the courts.
