White House Freezes $175 Million in Funding to University of Pennsylvania Over Transgender Athlete Policies
In a significant move, the White House has decided to halt $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania. This decision arises from concerns about the university’s policies regarding transgender athletes, particularly focusing on their participation in women’s sports.
The announcement was made via a Fox Business clip shared on X, attributed to an unnamed White House official. The clip emphasized President Trump’s commitment to “protect female athletes” and highlighted his willingness to withdraw federal funding from educational institutions that do not adhere to his executive order prohibiting biological males from participating in women’s sports.
Last month, President Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, aimed at withdrawing federal support from schools allowing transgender women and girls to participate in female sports. The University of Pennsylvania, a recipient of over $1 billion in federal funds for the fiscal year 2024, faces a freeze that represents approximately 17.5% of its federal funding.
Despite inquiries, the Department of Education directed questions regarding the funding suspension to the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services. However, none of these departments, nor the White House, responded to requests for comment.
This development follows President Trump’s longstanding stance against transgender individuals’ participation in sports and the military, as seen in previous policy decisions such as the transgender troops ban.
The University of Pennsylvania has been at the center of this debate since 2022 when Lia Thomas, a transgender student, triumphed in three individual swimming events at the women’s Ivy League championships. Thomas had previously competed in the men’s league before beginning her medical transition.
Following the White House’s announcement on social media, Penn’s communications office issued a statement indicating that the university had not been officially informed of the funding halt. “We are aware of media reports suggesting a suspension of $175 million in federal funding to Penn, but have not yet received any official notification or any details,” the statement read. It further asserted, “It is important to note, however, that Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams. We have been in the past, and remain today, in full compliance with the regulations that apply not only to Penn, but all of our NCAA and Ivy League peer institutions.”
