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S 1988119th CongressIn Committee

A bill to prohibit the participation of males in athletic programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls.

Introduced: Jun 9, 2025
Civil Rights & JusticeDefense & National Security
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would require the Secretary of Defense to prohibit participation of male-at-birth individuals in athletic programs or activities at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy that are designated for women or girls. In practical terms, it would bar rostered participation of men in women-designated teams at the service academies. The bill also includes a rule of construction allowing males to train or practice with women-designated programs as long as doing so does not deprive female athletes of roster spots, participation opportunities, scholarships, admissions, or any other benefits associated with the program. The definitions section specifies that “athletic programs and activities” cover all programs tied to participation on any athletic team, and “sex” is defined by birth biology/genetics.

Key Points

  • 1Prohibits a person whose sex is male from participating in athletic programs or activities at the service academies that are designated for women or girls.
  • 2The Secretary of Defense must ensure these academies do not permit male participation in women-designated athletic programs.
  • 3Rule of Construction: Males may train with women-designated programs if no female loses a roster spot or any associated benefit (roster inclusion, participation opportunities, scholarships, admissions, etc.).
  • 4Definitions:
  • 5- “Athletic programs and activities” include programs conditional upon participation with any athletic team.
  • 6- “Sex” means reproductive biology/genetics at birth.
  • 7The bill focuses on participation status and eligibility rather than outright bans on all forms of contact with women-designated programs.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Male-at-birth cadets/midshipmen at the three service academies (and potentially transgender women by birth-sex interpretation) who would be barred from rostered participation on women’s teams.Secondary group/area affected:- Female athletes and teams at the service academies, who would retain roster spots and benefits without competition from male athletes on women-designated rosters.Additional impacts:- Implementation and enforcement would fall to the Department of Defense, potentially affecting intramural and training activities that touch women-designated programs.- Possible legal or constitutional considerations, including compatibility with anti-discrimination laws and policies (e.g., implications under Title IX and equal protection analyses), and potential litigation or administrative challenges.- Impact on recruitment, athlete morale, and campus climate, particularly around issues of gender identity and inclusivity in athletics.
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