Trump's week in review: From healthcare fraud takedown to the Big Beautiful Bill
2. Trump admin. reaches settlement with UPenn
In a statement published Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it had reached an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania in which the school agreed to take several actions to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX requires institutions that receive federal funding to provide equal opportunities to women and girls, including in sports.
The Trump administration had previously threatened to withhold $175 million from the UPenn for allowing trans-identified male athletes to compete in women’s sports. The school received national attention after trans-identified male swimmer Lia (Will) Thomas, who competed on the men’s swimming team for three seasons, began competing on the women’s swimming team and breaking women’s swimming records.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UPenn will “restore to female athletes all individual UPenn Division I swimming records, titles, or similar recognitions which were misappropriated by male athletes allowed to compete in female categories” in addition to reversing the school’s policy allowing trans-identified male athletes to compete on women’s sports teams and apologizing to female athletes harmed by its policy.
Going forward, the institution will also prohibit men from entering women’s private spaces, such as locker rooms and showers.
The agreement has already resulted in the revocation of swimming records set by Thomas in women's competitions, although a list of such records compiled by UPenn still notes that “Competing under eligibility rules in effect at the time, Lia [Will] Thomas set program records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle during the 2021-22 season.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
