WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order Wednesday designed to prevent people who were biologically assigned male at birth from participating in women’s or girls’ sporting events.
It’s one of Trump’s campaign trail promises that marks another aggressive shift in the way the federal government deals with transgender people and their rights.
More than 60 people will attend the executive order signing, including South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Macy and Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and Independent Women’s Forum ambassador.
The executive order, set to be signed at 3 p.m. ET, will come on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which celebrates female athletes from across women’s sports and those who are committed to providing equal access to sports for all women.
Critics: The order will lead to discrimination and harassment
Senior White House officials told NewsNation that schools failing to follow the executive order risk losing funding and could be sued for violating Title IX, the law best known for its role in pursuing gender equity in athletics and preventing sexual harassment on campuses.
The order also allows the U.S. to review the gender of international athletes competing in women’s sports in the U.S.
House Republicans have slammed Democrats for not supporting the controversial policy.
“Democrats would rather allow men to compete in girls’ sports than protect our little girls. They are truly out of touch with reality,” said Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich. “Our girls don’t need to live in your distorted reality.”
Legal challenges are expected, with critics arguing the executive order could lead to increased discrimination and harassment.
“Men don’t belong in women’s sports or locker rooms. February 5th is National Girls & Women in Sports Day. We will hold the line to protect women, no matter where. XY will never be XX,” Mace wrote in a post on X.