Following the House passage of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) are introducing a resolution urging the NCAA to bar transgender athletes from women's sports. The resolution calls for revoking the eligibility of current trans female athletes and establishing policies to prevent future participation. This move aims to address concerns about fairness, safety, and the preservation of women's sports.
Senator Blackburn emphasized the importance of protecting female athletes, stating, "Young women across the country have suffered injuries, faced sexual harassment, and lost accolades because they were forced to share spaces designed for women with men. The vast majority of Americans agree athletes should only be allowed to compete on teams that correspond with their biological sex. We must put an end to this assault on women."
Unlike the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which focuses on federally funded institutions, this resolution targets the NCAA, potentially impacting private colleges as well. The resolution comes in the wake of controversies surrounding transgender athletes like swimmer Lia Thomas and volleyball player Blaire Fleming, bringing the issue of trans inclusion in college sports to the forefront of national debate.
Rep. Steube highlighted the potential risks to women's sports, saying, "Women’s sports were created to ensure fairness and opportunity for female athletes. The NCAA’s discriminatory policy jeopardizes that fairness, putting women at a competitive disadvantage while creating safety threats. I'm honored to join Senator Blackburn in introducing this resolution to show that Congress stands strongly with women."
The NCAA's current policies, which have been criticized by Republican lawmakers, have allowed and protected the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker has defended these policies, citing federal law and recent court rulings. However, no ruling has explicitly mandated the inclusion of trans women in women's sports.
President Biden's executive order on his first day in office supported trans inclusion in sports. This new resolution, backed by groups like Concerned Women for America (CWA), seeks to counter that policy. CWA has been vocal about protecting women's sports during the Biden administration. Former NCAA athlete and CWA legislative strategist Macy Petty expressed frustration with the NCAA's stance, stating, "The NCAA continues to fail their responsibility to protect female athletes and are the foremost leader facilitating this discrimination."
With President-elect Trump having pledged to ban trans athletes from women's sports during his campaign, this issue gained significant traction during the 2024 election. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, passed with bipartisan support in the House, reflects this growing concern. Given the Republican majority in the Senate, both of Steube's proposals could gain approval during the upcoming Trump administration.
