Education Secretary’s Remarks on Title IX and Women’s Sports

During a statement at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that Title IX, which aims to protect women against discrimination, will still adhere to “biological realities.” This comes as the court is deliberating on multiple lawsuits that challenge state restrictions on men’s participation in women’s sports.

McMahon highlighted the negative consequences of policies that overlook the physical differences between the sexes. While waiting for the court’s ruling, she assured that the Department of Education remains committed to enforcing Title IX as it was originally intended, prioritizing equity and safety for women and girls in educational settings.

“It’s disheartening that women continue to fight for equal access to sports opportunities,” McMahon stated. She reminded listeners that over 50 years ago, women struggled for equal educational rights under Title IX, a fight that President Trump’s Department of Education sought to continue by clarifying that the law is fundamentally rooted in biological fact.

She criticized the Biden administration for allegedly adopting a perspective that diminishes women’s rights, referencing the decision to redefine Title IX in a way that includes gender identity. This change would have permitted men to access women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and sporting events, but was ultimately invalidated after legal challenges.

“In just four years, we’ve seen the Biden administration reverse years of progress, distorting the definition of ‘sex’ to align with personal perceptions of gender identity, rather than grounded biological facts,” McMahon recalled. “This shift has led to unfair conditions for women and girls, resulting in harassment and serious injuries. It’s been incredibly challenging for them.”

She reiterated the commitment of the Trump administration to restore a scientific understanding of sex and mentioned the formation of a Title IX task force focused on addressing complaints related to sex and gender discrimination. The initiative aims to enforce a definition of gender that is biologically based.

McMahon also shared examples of women negatively impacted by these policies, including volleyball player Peyton McNabb, who sustained brain damage from a ball hit by a male athlete presenting as a woman. She recounted the experiences of a University of Pennsylvania swimmer forced to change in front of a male teammate, Leah Thomas.

“Authorities have compelled girls to undress alongside men in private spaces, and women have been pushed to compete under unsafe conditions, all while being labeled as ‘bigots’ for defending their rights,” she noted. “This must come to an end. The actions of these brave students highlight why restoring fairness in women’s sports is essential.”

“The cases on the table today are more than legal disputes; they expose disturbing trends of harm driven by radical efforts to alter our cultural landscape,” McMahon added.

Concluding her remarks, she stated, “Americans are exhausted by the left’s flawed interpretation of federal law that limits opportunities for women and subjects them to the discomfort and dangers of uneven competition. This is why the American public elected President Trump—to restore sanity and common sense to the treatment of men and women.”