Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would modify Title IX (the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education) to require that school athletic programs that receive federal funding allow only female athletes to compete in sports designated for women and girls. The bill defines sex based on biological sex at birth (reproductive biology and genetics) rather than gender identity. Male athletes could still train or practice with women's teams, but would not be eligible to compete in official women's sports. **Who It Affects** The bill would affect schools at all levels—elementary, secondary, and colleges/universities—that receive any federal funding. It primarily impacts transgender girls and women who currently compete in women's sports, as well as school athletic departments that would need to adjust their eligibility policies.
The bill applies to any school receiving federal education funding. **Current Status** The bill passed the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress (2025). It now moves to the Senate for consideration. If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, it would become law and require schools to implement new eligibility rules for women's sports programs.
CRS Official Summary
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025This bill generally prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls.Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.) Under the bill, sex is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits.The Government Accountability Office must report on the benefits for women or girls in single-sex sports that would be lost as a result of male participation. In particular, the report must document the negative psychological, developmental, participatory, and sociological effects of male participation on girls.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate.