Trump executive order on protecting women's sports draws response from NCAA

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The NCAA responded to President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep biological men out of women’s sports on Wednesday night.

Trump signed the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D..C., in front of female athletes on National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

NCAA President Charlie Baker responded to the executive order in a statement, saying it provided a "clear, national standard." 

Baker said the NCAA Board of Governors would review it and take steps to align the organization’s policy in the coming days.

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President Donald Trump waves after signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

"The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes," the statement said. "We strongly believe that clear, consistent and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard.

"The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy."

Trump was joined by Independent Women ambassadors Riley Gaines, Payton McNabb, Paula Scanlan, Sia Liilii, Lauren Miller, Kim Russell, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Linnea Saltz and Lily Mullens.

NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during a press conference celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the NCAA moving its national office to Indianapolis at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis on Aug. 13, 2024. (Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar/USA Today Network)

"This doesn't have to be long. It's all about common sense," Trump said before signing the order, adding that "women's sports will be only for women. The war on women's sports is over."

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing before Trump signed the executive order that it "upholds the promise of Title IX."

Leavitt said Trump expected the NCAA and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to comply.

"He does expect the Olympic committee and the NCAA to no longer allow men to compete in women’s sports," she said. "I think the president, with the signing of his pen, starts a very public pressure campaign on these organizations to do the right thing for women and for girls.

"Again, this is an incredibly popular position. There have been many notable female athletes who have had the courage to speak out against some very powerful institutions in this country. They deserve to have a voice and a say. The president is bringing their voice to the highest level of the White House. He expects these organizations to comply with this federal executive order he will be signing today."

Felicia Martin, vice president of the NCAA's Eligibility Center, spoke at a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day and suggested the NCAA Board of Governors is already discussing potential policy changes once Trump's executive order goes into effect. 

President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's and girls' sporting events in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

"We know that this is an issue and a national conversation happening around participation," she said. "The Board of Governors is right now having conversations about what potential next steps might be, but this is absolutely one of those issues that is ongoing. 

"But without a national standard that can be applied across the board, all of us are making decisions based on what we think is the best for student-athletes and opportunities."

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Martin added that she expects more clarity on a national standard later in the day from Trump. She also said the Board of Governors would make its decisions on any policy changes based on the specific details of the executive order.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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