U.S. Education Department orders Penn to erase transgender swimmer records

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has determined that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete on its women's team and use women-only facilities. The department ordered Penn to erase Thomas' records, ban transgender athletes from women's teams, and issue apology letters to female athletes whose opportunities were affected. Penn was given 10 days to comply or face potential federal prosecution and a risk of losing federal funding, as the Trump administration has made enforcing single-sex sports a policy priority. The university has previously stated that it followed all NCAA and Ivy League guidelines regarding student participation. The case has become a focal point in the national debate over transgender athletes' participation in women's sports, with advocates on both sides weighing in. Prominent figures such as Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan, former competitors, have supported the administration’s actions, emphasizing the protection of female athletes’ rights.