The University of Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of the “men in women’s sports” debate as hulking 6’ 1” biological male Lia Thomas dominated swimming competitions as a member of the school’s women’s swim team. Among those most angered was star Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who was forced to give up a medal even though a race ended in a tie with Thomas; she also had to see him wandering around the locker rooms with his full biology exposed. She has since gone on to become an outspoken advocate for women’s rights.
Donald Trump had read the news, and in one of his very first acts, he issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Earlier in March, meanwhile, the administration pulled tens of millions in federal funding from the University of Maine after the Department of Agriculture found that the school was not complying with the EO.
Now it’s UPenn’s turn:
The Trump administration is freezing $175 million in taxpayer funding to the University of Pennsylvania for defying the president’s executive action and continuing to let transgender athletes compete in women’s sports.
The funding makes up nearly one-fifth of the Ivy League university’s overall federal monies received last year. Those payments came from the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services, according to FOX Business.
“Promises made. Promises kept” the administration posted to social media Wednesday:
BREAKING: The Trump Administration has "paused $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania" over its policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 19, 2025
Promises made, promises kept. pic.twitter.com/o4yiiqtH9d
Read More: Star Swimmer Riley Gaines Blasts Biological Males in Women's Sports, 'I Was Reduced to a Photo Op'
Finding Out: Trump Admin Yanks Funding to Blue-State University That Allows Men in Women's Sports
The action could cost the university big bucks:
UPenn took roughly $1 billion in federal funds in 2024, but more taxpayer money could be yanked amid a broader probe by the Trump admin into other possible Title IX violations by the Department of Education.
The question that immediately pops into mind is, why the heck were we giving a billion dollars a year to a highly endowed Ivy League University in the first place? With tuitions at these places often topping $90K and billions in the bank, don't they have enough money? (UPenn's endowment is approximately a cool $22.3 billion, yet they need more taxpayer dollars?)
Especially when they can't keep their female students safe:
This is a low bar…
— Anthony Galli (@RallyWithGalli) March 19, 2025
Don’t force women to get beat up by men.
Why do Democrats struggle with this so much?
It’s bizarre that Democrats have chosen to die on this hill, an issue in which the public overwhelmingly sees that men competing against women is both unfair and unsafe. Trump is right to root out this poison, and universities and schools that fail to comply should continue to feel the pain.
Three years ago to the day I raced and tied a man at the DI NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) March 19, 2025
Today, the Trump administration paused $175M in federal funding to University Pennsylvania for this reason.
Serendipitous. pic.twitter.com/97X9s9S7Bu
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