University of Pennsylvania enters resolution agreement to settle Title IX violations
By Easton Martin | July 1, 2025
The University of Pennsylvania announced today it will prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports, resolving a federal Title IX civil rights investigation related to the participation of swimmer Lia Thomas.
The settlement, reached with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, stems from allegations that Penn violated Title IX protections by allowing Thomas, a transgender athlete, to compete on the women’s swim team during the 2021–2022 season. Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, prompting widespread debate about fairness in women’s athletics.
As part of today’s settlement, the university agreed to adopt a policy aligning sports participation with biological sex at birth. Additionally, Penn will formally apologize to affected female athletes, individually addressing those who lost titles, records, or recognition due to competition against Thomas. The university also committed to restoring team records and championships impacted by Thomas’s participation.
The resolution follows the suspension of approximately $175 million in federal funding earlier this year due to Penn’s previous non-compliance with Title IX. The Department of Education initiated the funding freeze under an executive order from the Trump administration emphasizing sex-based definitions in athletic competitions.
In a public statement, University President Larry Jameson reaffirmed Penn’s commitment to supporting collegiate athletics while complying fully with federal regulations and NCAA guidelines.
Today’s settlement marks a significant policy reversal for the university and underscores the intensifying national debate over transgender participation in gender-segregated sports. Federal officials emphasized the agreement as essential to maintaining fairness and preventing sex-based discrimination in women’s athletics.
The university is required to implement all aspects of the agreement within ten days or face potential further federal action.
