The White House has decided to halt $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania, citing the institution’s stance on transgender athletes. The decision was conveyed via a Fox Business segment shared on social media, attributed to an unnamed White House representative. The segment stated that President Trump has committed to safeguarding female athletes and threatened to withdraw federal support from universities that do not adhere to his executive order prohibiting biological males from participating in women’s sports.
This action follows an executive order signed by Trump titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which aims to withdraw federal funding from educational institutions that permit transgender women and girls to compete in female sports categories. For the fiscal year 2024, the University of Pennsylvania, Trump’s alma mater, received over $1 billion in federal funds, with the freeze affecting approximately 17.5% of this amount.
The Department of Education redirected queries regarding the funding hold to the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, with no response forthcoming from these departments or the White House. The decision aligns with Trump’s campaign vows and his longstanding opposition to transgender inclusion in sports and military service.
The University of Pennsylvania was thrust into the spotlight in 2022 during a controversy involving a transgender athlete, Lia Thomas, who achieved significant victories in women’s swimming events. She had previously competed in men’s categories during her initial seasons at Penn while undergoing medical transition.
Following the White House’s announcement, the University of Pennsylvania’s communications office issued a statement indicating unawareness of the funding suspension, noting a lack of official communication on the issue. The statement emphasized the university’s adherence to NCAA and Ivy League rules regarding student athletes and maintained that Penn remains compliant with applicable regulations shared by peer institutions.
