The Trump administration is gunning for Lia Thomas—again. In a move that has reignited debates over trans athletes and civil rights, the Education Department said the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX when it allowed Thomas, a transgender woman, to compete on its women’s swim team.
The Office for Civil Rights launched its investigation in February, singling out Penn’s inclusion of Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title in 2022. The administration claims the school denied women “equal opportunities” by permitting “males to compete in women’s intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities.” Though Thomas isn’t named explicitly in the ruling, it’s not hard to read between the chlorine-soaked lines.
Now, the university has 10 days to comply or face legal consequences. Among the demands? Issue a public apology to the female athletes allegedly affected, agree to follow a stricter interpretation of Title IX, and—here’s the kicker—strip Thomas of her records and accolades.
Penn has yet to respond, but previously said it followed all NCAA and Ivy League policies at the time Thomas was competing. Notably, when Thomas swam, she was in full compliance with NCAA rules, which then allowed trans women who completed a year of hormone therapy to compete. It wasn’t until 2025, under Trump’s executive order, that the NCAA abruptly reversed course and banned all transgender athletes from women’s sports outright.
A Political Ploy with Real Impact
Let’s not pretend this is about fairness in sports. Lia Thomas has been a political punching bag since her first race win, becoming a symbol of a so-called “gender war” cooked up for conservative voters. And now, the administration is using its power not just to erase her achievements but to threaten universities with financial punishment—Penn has already seen $175 million in federal funding frozen.
This isn’t just a fight about one swimmer. It’s about the government deciding who gets to belong, who gets to compete, and who gets to be seen. The Trump administration isn’t stopping at Penn: other investigations are underway across the country, and it has even sued the state of Maine for not banning trans athletes.
For the להטב”ק community, the message is chilling: achievements can be stripped, identities questioned, and entire educational experiences invalidated by an administration bent on erasure. Thomas followed every rule. Her success didn’t violate women’s rights—it challenged old ideas of who women are.
This isn’t protecting women. It’s punishing trans people. And Lia Thomas, once again, is forced to swim against the current of political bigotry.