The White House announced Wednesday that it has frozen $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania for allowing transgender athletes to compete against women based on gender identity.
The White House Rapid Response team said that the administration has paused $175 million in funding from the Ivy League university “over its policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.”
“Promises made, promises kept,” read the post on X, which linked to a Fox Business report.
A Penn spokesperson said university officials are “aware of media reports suggesting a suspension of $175 million in federal funding to Penn, but have not yet received any official notification or any details.”
The university ignited a national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports during the 2021-22 swimming season, which saw Penn swimmer Lia Thomas become the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s title.
“It is important to note, however, that Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams,” said the Penn spokesperson. “We have been in the past, and remain today, in full compliance with the regulations that apply to not only Penn, but all of our NCAA and Ivy League peer institutions.”
BREAKING: The Trump Administration has “paused $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania” over its policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.
Promises made, promises kept. pic.twitter.com/o4yiiqtH9d
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 19, 2025
The announcement comes with the Trump administration targeting the Ivy League and other elite universities in an effort to reverse academia’s march to the left.
Two weeks ago, the administration pulled $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University over its “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
The Department of Education launched an investigation last month into Penn and San Jose State University into suspected violations of Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in education. Both universities have featured transgender athletes in women’s sports.
An administration spokesperson said the Penn funding freeze falls under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense.
The Washington Times has reached out to both departments for comment.
