Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
This bill would amend the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) to require that, for purposes of determining compliance in athletics, a person’s sex is defined strictly by the reproductive biology and genetics they have at birth. It would make it a violation for any recipient of federal financial assistance to allow a person identified as male at birth to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls. The bill also allows males to train or practice with women’s programs under certain conditions, specifically so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot, participation opportunity, scholarship, admission, or any other accompanying benefit. In addition, it requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study what counts as “any other benefit” and to examine the potential adverse effects on girls’ participation and opportunities if males were allowed to compete in single-sex sports, with a formal report to Congress. Notably, the provided text includes a line stating the House passed the measure on January 14, 2025, though the accompanying header lists the sponsor as unknown and status as introduced. The bill would thus meaningfully redefine eligibility in women’s and girls’ sports and set up a GAO study to gauge broader consequences.
Key Points
- 1Defines sex strictly by birth biology and genetics for Title IX athletics compliance, effectively excluding transgender status from determining eligibility for women’s programs.
- 2Prohibits a male-at-birth to participate in athletic programs or activities designated for women or girls in federally funded settings.
- 3Allows males to train or practice with women’s programs if female athletes’ roster spots and related benefits are not affected.
- 4Expands the scope of “athletic programs and activities” to include all programs conditioned on participation with a team.
- 5Requires the Comptroller General to study and report on what “any other benefit” means in this context, including impacts on girls’ participation and the broader social and psychological effects, with a congressional briefing to the Education/Workforce and HELP committees.