The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has said it will not establish a policy on eligibility for trans athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles game, despite growing political pressure from the Trump administration and increased scrutiny of women’s access and inclusion of sports.
Speaking Thursday after the committee’s first board meeting in 2025, CEO Sarah Hirschland said the USOPC has no plans to define eligibility criteria for US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14201-Title. Keep men away from women’s sports – Threatening to promote international participation protocols.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate,” Hirschland said. “It’s not our role to take that position.”
She said the responsibility for athlete eligibility falls into global events in domestic competitions and the United Nations of National Governing Organizations (NGBs). That distinction, long supported by the USOPC, is now a political tightrope walk. The LA28 hosting agreement requires the United States to ensure access to all qualified athletes. This could clash with a new federal order.
Board Chairman Jean Sykes said the committee received “significant peace of mind” from the White House and the State Department that visa access for Olympic athletes and aides would be protected, but he confirmed that no transgender-specific concerns were raised during a recent meeting with the administration.
“One of the key topics on our agenda was the feedback we received from the State Department regarding the president’s executive order,” Sykes said. “As a board of directors, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting athletes’ opportunities to participate in sports… [and] Ensuring a fair and safe competitive environment for women. ”
Transgender eligibility questions were highlighted by a recent controversy at USA Fencing, in which athletes were confiscated, rather than competing with trans women in national tournaments. When asked if the USOPC would intervene, Hirshland again postponed. “There is no eligibility policy,” she said.
Still, USOPC is lobbying on other fronts. While in Washington, Sykes and Hirschland are seeking lawmakers to support Olympic sports on university campuses, but there is fear that changes in NCAA governance could reduce opportunities for non-revenue sports.
Despite the political turmoil, the committee presented optimistic outlook on preparations for LA28. The organising committee said it has secured more than $1 billion in commercial transactions, surpassing the midpoint of its national sponsorship goals. More announcements are expected in the coming months.
The venue plans have also been finalized. Sykes confirmed the local organising committee’s announcement on Tuesday. Dodger Stadium hosted Olympic baseball and confirmed that Trestle Beach in San Clemente will serve as a surfing venue. Both sites provide a symbolic background rooted in Southern California’s sports culture and are designed to keep costs down by leveraging existing infrastructure.
“We’re very excited and focused on the LA28 game,” Sykes said. “From the very top of the administration, they hope this will be a very successful experience.”
Hirshland also confirmed the official recognition of USA Football as the sport’s new national governing body, placing the US on the flag football field team that will make its Olympic debut in 2028. “We’re pretty excited,” she said. “We want to create a very strong team.”
Meanwhile, the fight to determine the NGB for surfing continues. At least two organizations are applied: USA Surfing and US Ski & Snowboard. Hirschland acknowledged concerns about a potential conflict of interest, but said the process is still ongoing and not without precedent.
Notable omissions from the committee’s Washington debate: an ongoing conflict between the US and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Several members of Congress have raised concerns about WADA governance, but Sykes said the issue was not raised in a meeting with the State Department or Trump officials.
“We’re deeply involved in the discussion,” he said.
More than three years before LA held its third summer game, USOPC found itself stuck between competing pressures. A rapidly shifting public conversation about international sports demands, the political agenda of host governments, equity, inclusion and access. The foundations for 2028 are ongoing, but the rules of the game may still be in fluidity.
