On February 5th, 2025, President Donald Trump released an executive order titled “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” which serves the purpose of “Defending women from gender ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” (Executive Order 14168). This new executive order is to protect opportunities for biological women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports. This was signed during a “signing ceremony” held by the white house with young female athletes surrounding the executive order. 

According to scientific research from the National Health Institute, biological men are stronger, more powerful, and faster than women of similar age because of testosterone, which gives them a 10%-30% advantage automatically. Testosterone in men increases 30-fold by adulthood, increasing their abilities drastically compared to women.

In 2022, Payton McNab, a biological girl, was competing in a high school volleyball match when a transgender athlete on the opposing team spiked a ball in her face. This resulted in a severe concussion and a traumatic brain injury, causing brain bleeding and permanent whiplash. 

McNab said, “I suffered from a concussion and neck injury, which I am still recovering from to this day,” she states three years later. She was honored by President Trump and was present for the signing ceremony of the executive order. 

On February 6th, the NCAA voted on this legislation, banning biological men, meaning gender assigned at birth, from competing in women’s sports, but allowing them to collect the benefits from women’s sports by being able to receive scholarships and be on the practice squad. This will make a powerful difference in making women’s sports safer in competition and reduce the risk of injury for female athletes all over the country. 

As far as high-school sports, the Senate rejected the bill banning transgender athletes from women’s sports participation. This means that biological men assigned at birth will still be able to play against biological females and face them in competition. The failure to pass the executive order was a devastating loss for the safety of females, as they will continue to be put in danger during games and training. Along with a safety risk, they are also stripped of a fair chance at winning. In most cases, these females work all their lives to be the best at their sport, only to lose to someone who has a scientifically proven advantage.  

As far as New Jersey, the legislation has ruled to “Protect Transgender Athletes”, meaning that they will still be able to participate in women’s sports. This is an additional heartbreaking loss for female athletes. 

In a Charlie Kirk interview, the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, says that it is “deeply unfair” for women in sports, but also explains the mental health side effects of transgender athletes. This raises the question of what is more important- the mental health aspect for a singular athlete or the safety of the larger portion of women competing?

Women deserve a fair chance in competition for all sports, at all ages and levels. They deserve to feel safe when they are competing and feel as though their competitors have an even chance of winning as they do.