Yesterday, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights reached an agreement that the Ivy League school will adhere to the Trump administration’s ban on allowing males to compete in women’s sports. 

UPenn President Dr. J. Larry Jameson announced that the school has signed a resolution agreement consistent with the current interpretation of Title IX and current NCAA policies. This agreement includes: “releasing a public statement reaffirming their commitment to fully comply with Title IX in all of their athletic programs and to continuously adapt our practices as Title IX evolves over time; adhering to definitions of sex – with respect to women’s athletics – that have been set out through two specific Executive Orders; apologizing to those athletes who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time; and reviewing and updating the Penn women’s swimming records set during that season to indicate who would now hold the records under current eligibility guidelines.”

The announcement comes after the Department of Education conducted a civil rights investigation in February into male athlete Will Thomas, known as “Lia,” who competed for the school during the 2021-2022 swim season. Prior to the agreement, Thomas held three all-time school records in the 100-, 200- and 500-meter freestyle events as well as in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle relay events. 

Riley Gaines, a former 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer, tied with UPenn’s Thomas, in the 2022 NCAA National Championships. 

In March, the Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to the university as a result of the school’s refusal to comply with the ban on men in women’s sports. Then in April, the Department of Education said UPenn had violated Title IX by “denying woman equal opportunities by permitting males to compete in women's intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities.” 

In his statement yesterday, Dr. Jameson said, “Our commitment to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all of our students is unwavering. At the same time, we must comply with federal requirements, including executive orders, and NCAA eligibility rules, so our teams and student-athletes may engage in competitive intercollegiate sports.”

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We commend President Trump for upholding biological truth and protecting women and girls in sports. This is a great victory for women and girls at the University of Pennsylvania and across our nation.”