Officials allowing biological males in women’s sports could face criminal prosecution as the Trump administration aggressively enforces the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order against defiant Democrat-led states.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration has initiated investigations and lawsuits against states defying the executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, with possible criminal prosecution for non-compliant officials.
- Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and other athletes have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking policy changes and monetary damages for female athletes affected by transgender inclusion policies.
- Oregon high school track star Alexa Anderson staged a podium protest against a transgender athlete, leading to a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education against Oregon’s policies.
- Democrat-led states including California, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington continue to defy federal directives, adhering to their own state laws permitting transgender athletes in women’s sports.
- The NCAA revised its gender eligibility policy following Trump’s executive order, but critics argue the new policy lacks effective enforcement mechanisms.
Growing Calls for Prosecution of Non-Compliant Officials
Former NCAA swimmers and advocates for women’s sports are intensifying their demands for legal accountability against officials who permit transgender athletes to compete in women’s categories. Despite President Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” being in effect for four months, several Democrat-led states continue to defy the federal directive. This defiance has prompted the Trump administration to take increasingly aggressive enforcement actions, including investigations, funding freezes, and lawsuits against non-compliant institutions and states.
Riley Gaines, who famously competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA championships, has become one of the most vocal advocates for criminal prosecution of officials who knowingly violate the executive order. Gaines, along with fellow former NCAA swimmers and their legal team, argue that the situation has moved beyond a policy disagreement to a criminal offense against women’s rights. The administration’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has suggested that prosecution remains a possibility for those who continue to violate the order.
Legal Actions and Student Protests Escalate
The controversy has sparked both legal battles and grassroots protests among female athletes. In Oregon, high school track star Alexa Anderson made headlines when she and teammate Reese Eckard refused to stand on the podium with transgender athlete Liaa Rose during a medal ceremony. Anderson stood behind the podium instead, an action that reportedly led an official to tell the protesting athletes to “step aside” and “get out” of the photos. The protest has evolved into legal action, with America First Policy Institute filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.
“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.
Meanwhile, Gaines and several co-plaintiffs have filed a substantial lawsuit against the NCAA. The legal action not only seeks to prevent biological males from competing in women’s sports but also demands monetary damages for affected female athletes. The lawsuit specifically targets university officials who permit transgender athletes to participate in women’s categories, with Gaines singling out Georgia Tech’s president as someone who should face prosecution for allowing such competitions.
States Defying Federal Directive Face Consequences
California, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington have emerged as the primary battlegrounds in this conflict, with these Democrat-led states continuing to adhere to their own laws allowing transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity. The Trump administration has responded with escalating enforcement actions, including freezing funding to the University of Pennsylvania and filing a lawsuit against the state of Maine. California faces a looming deadline to amend its policies or potentially face similar legal action and funding cuts.
“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.
Attorney William Bock, who represents several female athletes in these cases, has reinforced the call for prosecution, arguing that officials knowingly defying federal law after months of the executive order being in effect should face criminal consequences. The Department of Justice has launched investigations against high school sports leagues in California, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, signaling the administration’s commitment to enforcing the executive order nationwide despite state-level resistance.
NCAA’s Policy Revision Under Scrutiny
Following President Trump’s executive order, the NCAA revised its gender eligibility policy to align with federal requirements. However, critics argue that the new policy lacks adequate enforcement mechanisms, pointing to incidents like a transgender athlete’s participation in a Division III rowing competition at Ithaca College, which was attributed to a “misunderstanding” with no apparent consequences from the NCAA. This perceived weakness in enforcement has fueled further calls for legal action and criminal prosecution.
“When you see the harm that this is causing women and girls, how could you not want to support prosecuting this?” Said Kylee Alons.
As the legal battles intensify, advocates for women’s sports argue that the issue transcends politics and centers on fundamental fairness and protection of women’s rights to fair competition. Jessica Steinmann, Anderson’s attorney, emphasized that female athletes are losing medals, scholarships, and economic opportunities to biological males, framing the fight as one for the future of women’s sports rather than a partisan issue. The continued enforcement actions by the Department of Justice appear crucial in maintaining these protections despite resistance from several states.
