President Donald Trump, following the administration's interpretation of Title IX, issued an executive order on Wednesday prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' sports.

According to the Trump administration's definition of "sex," which is the gender assigned at birth, federally supported organisations must follow the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" order, which gives federal agencies extensive jurisdiction to enforce Title IX.

In front of lawmakers and female athletes who have backed the ban, such as former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, President Trump declared, "With this executive order, the war on women's sports is ended," during the signing ceremony in the East Room.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the directive "honours the promise of Title IX " and will lead to "urgent enforcement proceedings" against educational institutions and athletic associations that bar women from participating in single-sex sports and locker rooms.

The move has sparked immediate backlash from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations, who argue the ban is discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the order "an unprecedented attack on transgender rights" and vowed to challenge it in court.

"Transgender athletes deserve the same opportunities to compete as their peers," said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign. "This executive order is based on fear-mongering, not facts, and it will have devastating consequences for transgender youth across the country."

With the 2024 presidential election still fresh, Trump’s latest executive order signals his administration’s continued focus on cultural and social issues that energized his base. However, whether the policy will withstand legal challenges in the coming months remains unclear.