Penn Agrees to Trump Order, Strips Trans Swimmer's Awards

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics USA

PHILADELPHIA — (July 1, 2025) — In a stunning concession, the University of Pennsylvania has agreed to the Trump administration’s demands to strip transgender swimmer Lia Thomas of her NCAA titles and issue formal apologies to cisgender athletes who lost to her during the 2021–2022 season.

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The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights announced Tuesday that Penn violated Title IX by allowing a trans woman to compete in women’s sports—despite the NCAA permitting it at the time.

White House Leverage: $175M Funding Threat Paused

The move comes after the Trump administration withheld $175 million in federal funding, citing Penn’s “infamous” decision to allow a trans athlete to compete on a women’s swim team. While the funding freeze remains unresolved, Penn has now agreed to a sweeping resolution that includes:

Revoking Thomas’s swimming awards
Issuing written apologies to cisgender swimmers
Posting public statements affirming “biology-based definitions” of male and female
Banning trans women from athletic teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms across campus

Title IX Weaponized?

Critics have slammed the resolution as an abuse of power. Shiwali Patel, of the National Women’s Law Center, called the outcome “devastating and shameful,” accusing the administration of distorting Title IX and waging an ideological war on trans students.

“This is a political stunt—not a victory for women,” said Patel. “Trans athletes aren’t harming women’s sports—Trump’s policies are.”

Teammate Turned Activist Applauds Decision

Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of Thomas and a vocal critic of trans inclusion in women’s sports, praised the decision.

“I’m deeply grateful to the Trump Administration for restoring our rightful accolades,” said Scanlan. “Penn finally took the honorable path.”

Penn’s Statement: Compliance or Capitulation?

University President J. Larry Jameson released a carefully worded statement affirming Penn’s past compliance with NCAA policy but acknowledging “competitive disadvantages” caused by the inclusion of Lia Thomas.

“While we complied with federal and NCAA guidelines,” said Jameson, “we recognize that some student-athletes were impacted—and we will apologize.”

What’s Next?

The Trump administration has vowed to expand enforcement of its February executive order banning trans athletes from participating in women’s sports at all federally funded institutions. Penn becomes the first Ivy League school to officially adopt the administration’s Title IX rewrite—one that many civil rights advocates say is legally and ethically dangerous.

Stay with JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics USA for continuing coverage of civil rights, education policy, and the national battle over transgender inclusion in sports.