Trump Administration Halts $175M in Federal Funds to UPenn Over Transgender Athlete Policy

The funding freeze follows a recent executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports, with UPenn under investigation for potential Title IX violations.

The Trump administration has paused $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania, citing the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The funding, tied to the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, represents nearly one-fifth of UPenn’s federal funding in 2024.
This action is separate from the ongoing Title IX investigation into UPenn and other institutions, launched after Trump’s February 5 executive order on transgender athlete participation.
UPenn has stated it has not received formal notification of the funding pause and asserts compliance with NCAA and Ivy League policies.
The case has reignited national debate over fairness in women’s sports, with figures like Riley Gaines supporting the administration’s decision and advocacy groups denouncing it as discriminatory.