University of Pennsylvania Loses $175m in US Funding Due to Transgender Athlete Policy
University of Pennsylvania Loses $175m in US Funding Due to Transgender Athlete Policy
The U.S. government has suspended $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) due to its policies on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. The White House announced this decision on March 19, as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to assert its position on gender and athletics.
This funding suspension follows President Donald Trump’s executive order from last month, which prohibits transgender athletes from competing in female-only sports at schools.
UPenn, an Ivy League university that drew national attention in 2022 when a transgender swimmer participated on its women’s team, stated that it had not received an official notification regarding the funding withdrawal. University officials learned of the decision through media outlets.
A UPenn spokesperson defended the university’s practices, asserting that it fully complies with the regulations established by governing athletic organizations. “We have been, and continue to be, in full compliance with the regulations applicable not just in Pennsylvania but across all NCAA and Ivy League institutions,” the spokesperson said.
This funding suspension has further fueled the ongoing debate surrounding the participation of transgender individuals in sports.
