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President Donald Trump suspended $175 million in federal funds from a major Ivy League institution due to its allowance of transgender athlete Lia Thomas to compete with female athletes.
The University of Pennsylvania The institution’s athletic policies permitted Thomas to participate on the women's swim team and utilize the women's locker rooms and restrooms despite revealing male genitalia.
As part of the administration's Title IX probe into Trump’s renowned undergraduate institution, UPenn might lose all federal funding, reported Fox Business.
The White House The quick reaction squad from shared the news clip on their X profile, asserting that the funding penalty is because of the university’s ‘rules making women compete against men in athletics.’
'Promises made, promises kept,' it also included Trump's frequently quoted slogan.
Although $175 million has already been seized from UPenn due to contracts with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services, the administration is currently cautioning that every form of federal funding for the institution could be jeopardized.
According to the network, an official stated, "This is merely a preview of potential future actions against Penn." They added, "The President aims to proactively penalize the institution by reducing discretionary funding allocated to the school from departments such as Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS)."


A representative from the Ivy League based in Philadelphia stated that they have not received any formal communication or specifics regarding this matter; however, they are cognizant of the allegations concerning the suspension of funds.
The spokesperson stated in an emailed response to NBC News, "It should be emphasized that Penn has consistently adhered to both NCAA and Ivy League guidelines concerning student involvement in sports teams."
We have always adhered to the rules set for Penn and continue to do so now, as these same regulations apply equally to all our peers in the NCAA and Ivy League.
Last month, Trump issued an executive order banning individuals assigned male at birth but who currently identify as female from participating in women’s and girls’ sports competitions.
The lawsuit argues that permitting transgender athletes to take part in women's sporting events is degrading, inequitable, and harmful to women and girls, simultaneously depriving them of the chance to fairly compete and succeed in athletic endeavors.
Perhaps the most notorious instance of a biological male excelling in women's college sports is Thomas. They dominated in an athletic discipline where they previously performed averagely when competing against other males.
In 2022, Penn garnered nationwide attention when the transgender student participated in the women’s swim team. Thomas subsequently became the first transgender woman to secure an NCAA swimming title.
In his directive, Trump stated that he would withhold all funding from educational programs and institutions that deny women and girls equitable chances for sports participation. This policy aims to prevent the endangerment, embarrassment, and suppression of women and girls as well as protect their right to privacy.

The competition of men in women's sporting events is a dual-edged problem.
The primary argument against transgender athletes is that the biological disparities they highlight are eroding the advancements achieved in women's sports.
The other issue is that female athletes frequently find themselves required to share a locker room or bathroom with transgender athletes—even if those individuals still possess male genitalia.
Trump signed an executive order once back in the Oval Office proclaiming the federal government will only recognize two sexes on passports, drivers licenses and other official identification documents.
He also put his signature on a directive prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the military and another one that limits gender-confirming treatments and care for those under 19 years old—both measures are currently halted as legal challenges are being considered in court.
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