UPenn to Ban Transgender Athletes, Feds Say, Ending Civil Rights Case

Introduction to the Case

The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender women from its women’s sports teams to resolve a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes. The U.S. Education Department announced the voluntary agreement, which focuses on Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who last competed for the Ivy League school in Philadelphia in 2022.

Background on the Case

The case is part of the Trump administration’s broader attempt to remove transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. Under the agreement, Penn agreed to restore all individual Division I swimming records and titles to female athletes who lost out to Thomas, the Education Department said. Penn also agreed to send a personalized apology letter to each of those swimmers.

Terms of the Agreement

The university must also announce that it "will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs" and it must adopt "biology-based" definitions of male and female, the department said. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls. "The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law," McMahon said in a statement.

Investigation and Findings

The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the school’s federal funding.

Impact on Sports

In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been "misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories." The most obvious target at the college level was in women’s swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022. The NCAA has updated its record books when recruiting and other violations have stripped titles from certain schools, but the organization, like the NFSHSA, has not responded to the federal government’s request.

Conclusion

The agreement between the University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Education Department marks a significant development in the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. The case has sparked controversy and raised questions about the balance between inclusivity and fairness in athletic competitions. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how other schools and organizations will respond to the federal government’s efforts to enforce its interpretation of Title IX.

FAQs

• Q: What is the main issue in the case between the University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Education Department?
  A: The main issue is the participation of transgender women in women’s sports teams and the impact on female athletes.
• Q: Who is Lia Thomas, and what is her relevance to the case?
  A: Lia Thomas is a transgender swimmer who competed for the University of Pennsylvania and won a Division I title, prompting the investigation into the school’s compliance with Title IX.
• Q: What are the terms of the agreement between UPenn and the Education Department?
  A: The agreement includes banning transgender women from women’s sports teams, restoring records and titles to female athletes who competed against Lia Thomas, and adopting "biology-based" definitions of male and female.
• Q: How does this case fit into the broader context of transgender athletes in sports?
  A: The case is part of a larger debate and effort by the Trump administration to remove transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports, citing concerns over fairness and compliance with Title IX.

  By COLLIN BINKLEY, Associated Press

  WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender women from its women’s sports teams to resolve a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes.

  The U.S. Education Department announced the voluntary agreement Tuesday. The case focused on Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who last competed for the Ivy League school in Philadelphia in 2022, when she became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title.

  It’s part of the Trump administration’s broader attempt to remove transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.

  Under the agreement, Penn agreed to restore all individual Division I swimming records and titles to female athletes who lost out to Thomas, the Education Department said. Penn also agreed to send a personalized apology letter to each of those swimmers.

  It wasn’t immediately clear whether Thomas would be stripped of her awards and honors at Penn.

  The university must also announce that it “will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs” and it must adopt “biology-based” definitions of male and female, the department said.

  Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls.

  “The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law,” McMahon said in a statement.

  The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the school’s federal funding.

  In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been “misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.”

  The most obvious target at the college level was in women’s swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022.

  The NCAA has updated its record books when recruiting and other violations have stripped titles from certain schools, but the organization, like the NFSHSA, has not responded to the federal government’s request. Determining which events had a transgender athlete participating years later would be challenging.

  The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

  Originally Published: July 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM EDT