S. 9 · 119th Congress · Senate
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025
Introduced 2025-01-07 · Sponsored by Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL) · Last updated 2026-03-31
Last action (2025-03-03): Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 45. Record Vote Number: 100. (CR S1455-1456)
Summary
Would make it a Title IX violation for any school receiving federal funding to let someone whose biological sex at birth was male compete on women's or girls' sports teams. The rule applies at every level, from elementary school through college, and uses sex assigned at birth as the only criteria for eligibility.
The Good
Aims to preserve competitive fairness in women's athletics
Proponents argue that individuals who went through male puberty retain physiological advantages in strength, speed, and endurance even after hormone therapy. The bill seeks to maintain a level playing field for female athletes who have historically had fewer competitive opportunities.
Clarifies Title IX standards for athletic eligibility
Creates a uniform federal rule defining sex for the purposes of athletic participation in schools receiving federal funding. This replaces a patchwork of inconsistent state and institutional policies that have created confusion for athletes, coaches, and administrators.
Protects scholarship and recruitment opportunities
Women's athletic scholarships and roster spots are limited. Supporters argue the bill protects these opportunities for female athletes, particularly at the high school and collegiate levels where athletic participation can determine access to higher education.
The Bad
Effectively bans transgender girls and women from school sports
The bill defines sex as biological sex at birth for purposes of athletic eligibility. This means transgender girls and women cannot participate on teams matching their gender identity at any school receiving federal funds, regardless of their stage of transition or individual physical characteristics.
Medical research shows hormone therapy reduces physiological gaps
Studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and other peer-reviewed journals show that transgender women on hormone therapy experience significant reductions in muscle mass, strength, and hemoglobin levels over time. A blanket ban ignores individual variation and the effects of medical transition.
Could require invasive verification procedures in schools
Enforcement requires determining each student's biological sex at birth, which could lead to schools requesting birth certificates, medical records, or physical examinations. This raises privacy concerns for all students, not just transgender athletes, and places schools in an uncomfortable enforcement role.
Vote Record
Senate, 2025-03-03
Cloture on Motion to Proceed
Passed Congress.gov — Senate Roll Call #100
Senate vote by state
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