(Image Credit: IMAGN) Mar 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas finishes eighth in the 100 free at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at Georgia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has suspended approximately $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania over the participation of a transgender athlete in its swimming program, the White House confirmed on Wednesday.
This funding suspension is part of a broader review of discretionary federal funding for universities, according to the administration. The suspension is unrelated to the ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into the university’s athletic policies. The investigation, which was launched last month, focuses on Penn’s handling of transgender athletes, particularly the participation of Lia Thomas, who made history as the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title in 2022.
The federal funds withheld include money from both the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the University of Pennsylvania has yet to receive official notification or further details about the suspension, according to university spokesperson Ron Ozio.
“Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams,” Ozio said in a statement. “We have been in full compliance with all regulations that apply not only to Penn but also to our NCAA and Ivy League peer institutions.”
The Education Department’s investigation into Penn specifically targets the eligibility of Thomas to compete in women’s sports, after her record-breaking performance in the 2022 NCAA swimming championship. The inquiry was sparked by President Trump’s executive order aimed at banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, which was signed just prior to the investigation’s announcement.
In addition to Penn, the Education Department also opened reviews into other schools, including San Jose State University and its volleyball program, as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs high school sports in the state.
