Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Received in the Senate.
Introduced:Jan 3, 2025
Primary Sponsor
W. Gregory Steube
Representative
Republican
FL-17
Cosponsors
83
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Summary
This bill makes it a Title IX violation for federally funded education programs to allow individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in athletic programs designated for women or girls. Sex is defined based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. Male individuals may practice with female teams as long as it does not deprive females of opportunities. GAO must report on benefits for women in single-sex sports and negative effects of male participation on girls.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill makes it a Title IX violation for federally funded education programs to allow individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in athletic programs designated for women or girls. Sex is defined based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. Male individuals may practice with female teams as long as it does not deprive females of opportunities. GAO must report on benefits for women in single-sex sports and negative effects of male participation on girls.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill generally prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls.</p><p>Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.) Under the bill,<em> sex</em> is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.</p><p>The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits.</p><p>The Government Accountability Office must report on the benefits for women or girls in single-sex sports that would be lost as a result of male participation. In particular, the report must document the negative psychological, developmental, participatory, and sociological effects of male participation on girls.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Makes male participation in female sports a Title IX violation
Defines sex based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth
Applies to all federally funded education programs
Allows male practice with female teams if no opportunity loss
GAO must report on effects of male participation on girls
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
For female athletes: Protected athletic opportunities and fair competition. For transgender athletes: Exclusion from female sports categories. For schools: Clear eligibility standards based on biological sex. For Title IX enforcement: New compliance requirements. For sports governing bodies: Federal guidance on eligibility policies.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Related Subjects
Athletes
Education programs funding
School athletics
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
28, 119th Congress (2025). "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-28
