Wed Mar 19 17:40:00 UTC 2025: **Trump Administration Suspends $175 Million in Funding to University of Pennsylvania Over Transgender Athlete Policy**
PHILADELPHIA – The Trump administration has suspended approximately $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania, citing the university’s policies regarding transgender athletes. The White House announced the suspension on X (formerly Twitter), stating the decision was based on Penn’s “policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.” The move is linked to the university’s acceptance of Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, onto its women’s swim team. Thomas’s participation generated controversy, with members of the swim team previously expressing concerns about fairness in competition.
The University of Pennsylvania has yet to receive official notification of the funding suspension and maintains it is in compliance with all relevant NCAA and Ivy League regulations. This action follows a similar move against Columbia University two weeks prior, where $400 million in funding was paused. The administration’s actions are part of a broader effort to curtail federal spending and influence university policies on diversity and inclusion. Dozens of other schools are currently facing federal inquiries as a result of these policies. The administration’s actions represent an escalating conflict between the federal government and elite universities over issues of transgender rights and athletic participation.
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