Currently, the protection of women’s sports is enforced by over half of the states in the United States without the threat of a legal challenge.
Nevertheless, there are still 23 states that do not have any such laws, and some of those states have laws that protect trans athletes in girls’ sports.
On February 5, 2025, President Trump signed the “No Men In Women’s Sports” executive order, which resulted in additional restrictions on trans athletes and a requirement for states to comply with the order.
Conversely, it also facilitated a highly publicized altercation between Maine Governor Janet Mills and President Trump shortly after the order was signed.
Trump consistently issued threats to suspend federal funding to states that failed to comply with his executive order. Maine’s funds were frozen by Trump; however, a federal judge determined that they must be unfrozen.
However, legislation currently safeguards those states.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon released a statement later.
“Today’s ruling affirms the common sense right of states to prohibit men from competing in women’s sports, safeguard the integrity of female spaces, and ensure no woman faces discrimination on the basis of sex,” she said. “For years, ideologues distorted Title IX to advance a radical transgender agenda, subjecting women to immeasurable harm.
