President Donald Trump’s administration has delivered a decisive blow to the University of Pennsylvania after the school defied his crackdown on male athletes competing in female sports.
As part of Trump’s efforts to protect women’s sports, the administration has frozen $175 million in federal funding to UPenn.
It comes after the college defiantly allowed male athletes to compete against females.
As The New York Post reported, this funding cut represents nearly 20% of UPenn’s federal funding last year.
The move underscores Trump’s firm stance against institutions that disregard his executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
According to reports from FOX Business, UPenn raked in approximately $1 billion in taxpayer money in 2024.
Substantial amounts of this funding came from the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
However, UPenn’s promotion of radical gender ideology may cost the school even more as the Trump admin continues a broader investigation into potential Title IX violations at other institutions.
In a post on X, after the funding freeze was announced, the White House’s rapid response team declared:
“Promises made, promises kept.”
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
UPenn has long been at the center of Left’s War on Women.
It reached a boiling point at UPenn in 2022 when an unsuccessful male swimmer, Lia Thomas, switched to competing in the women’s category.
He immediately became a record-breaking swimmer in the women’s category and went on to claim an NCAA Division I title in the female 500-yard freestyle.
The controversy deepened after Thomas tied with the University of Kentucky’s Riley Gaines in the 200-yard freestyle.
The moment that has since fueled Gaines’ outspoken advocacy against the inclusion of male athletes in women’s sports.
“Three years ago to the day I raced and tied a man at the DI NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle,” Gaines posted on X.
“Today, the Trump administration paused $175M in federal funding to University Pennsylvania for this reason. Serendipitous.”
Three years ago to the day I raced and tied a man at the DI NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle.
Today, the Trump administration paused $175M in federal funding to University Pennsylvania for this reason.
Serendipitous. pic.twitter.com/97X9s9S7Bu
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) March 19, 2025
The Department of Education isn’t stopping with UPenn, however.
Officials are also investigating San Jose State University for allowing a biological male to compete in women’s volleyball.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association could be next over similar concerns.
Trump has made it clear that schools choosing radical activism over fairness will face real consequences.
His administration is also turning up the heat on universities in Maine, where a probe could put $250 million in federal funding on the line.
The president personally challenged Maine’s Democrat Governor Janet Mills during a governors’ summit at the White House in February.
Trump warned Mills: “You better comply!
“Because otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding.”
Mills nervously barked back, “See you in court!”
The message from the Trump administration is clear: if institutions choose to ignore biological reality and federal law, they’ll pay the price.
While UPenn and other schools scramble to respond, conservatives are cheering another win for common sense and fairness in women’s sports.
