On Tuesday, House Republicans took steps to introduce legislation aimed at preventing transgender girls from competing in girls’ school sports, pushing forward with a significant initiative from the Trump administration.
The proposed legislation, dubbed the “Girls’ Safety and Opportunity Act”, seeks to align with Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. According to this proposal, schools that receive federal funding would be restricted from allowing transgender students to use facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity or to participate in sports teams designated for their gender.
Back in March, Miller had already put forth similar proposals intended to prevent transgender students from accessing locker rooms. This aligns with efforts from the previous summer to reverse expanded protections for transgender students established under President Biden using the Congressional Review Act.
A statement from Miller’s office noted that the new bill, which has garnered support from 11 Republican colleagues, aims to uphold the “original intent” of Title IX and shield established laws from reinterpretation by “radical leftist or activist judges.”
The Trump administration has consistently maintained that Title IX effectively bars transgender girls from participating on women’s sports teams and prohibits access to girls’ bathrooms and changing areas in schools. Since Trump took office, over 20 surveys have been conducted examining the policies towards transgender students in various states, schools, and athletic organizations.
Education officials in states like California, Maine, Minnesota, and Virginia have insisted that their rules comply with both state and federal laws.
A February executive order signed by Trump affirmed the U.S. stance against “men’s competitive participation in women’s sports,” citing concerns about “safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.” During the signing, Trump cautioned that schools could face consequences if they did not comply.
“If a man takes over a female sports team or enters a locker room, he will be investigated for a Title IX violation and could risk federal funding,” Trump stated.
The Supreme Court is set to review a case in July regarding whether states can prohibit transgender athletes from joining girls’ school sports teams. Since 2020, more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws restricting transgender students from competing on teams that match their gender identity.
In four states—Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and West Virginia—court orders have blocked these laws, while New Hampshire’s ban on transgender athletes is partially suspended. In February, a lawsuit involving two high school students from New Hampshire aimed to challenge the state’s stance by including the Trump administration in the case.
Earlier this year, House Republicans, with support from two Democrats, successfully passed legislation banning transgender student-athletes from participating on women’s sports teams.
