Transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete in sports with their assigned gender identity in federally funded schools, according to the bill
House Republicans advanced legislation Tuesday to block transgender women and girls from school sports, heightening a contentious culture war.
The bill, passed 218-206 with two Texas Democrats joining Republicans, is the first standalone federal measure targeting transgender rights to clear either chamber of Congress.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act redefines Title IX rules to base sex on “reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” banning transgender athletes from teams aligning with their gender identity in federally funded schools.
“All throughout humanity, we have recognized as a species that there are women and there are men, as God created, who are obviously biologically different,” said Florida representative Greg Steube, the bill’s sponsor.
The legislation faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats but need 60 votes for passage.
The bill’s progress raises concerns about its impact on federal funding, including aid for California’s wildfire recovery, which has become tied to broader debt ceiling negotiations.
Civil rights groups have condemned the measure, warning it could lead to invasive investigations into students’ private medical information.
“There is no enforcement mechanism in this bill,” said New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “And when there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door for every enforcement mechanism.”
The Department of Education would oversee implementation, but critics argue the bill lacks clear guidelines for verifying students’ sex.
Previous state-level efforts, such as a Florida proposal to track students’ menstrual cycles, faced intense backlash and were abandoned.