The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has updated its athlete safety policy to prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports categories, in accordance with a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

The change, announced through a policy update and confirmed in a memo to Team USA athletes, aligns with Executive Order 14201, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” This directive, signed by Trump in February, mandates a ban on transgender female participation in women’s sports at all levels — from school to elite international competition — under the administration’s interpretation of Title IX.

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” USOPC President Gene Sykes and CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote in a memo to athletes, as reported by ABC News.

The updated USOPC policy affirms the committee’s intent to uphold a competition environment that is “fair and safe” for women, referencing compliance with both the executive order and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act. The policy revision is expected to impact a very limited number of athletes, given that transgender competitors represent a small fraction of the overall athlete population.

Despite requests for comment, the USOPC has not issued a formal public statement explaining the policy shift beyond what’s in the published update.

President Trump’s order has sparked significant national debate. Supporters argue it restores fairness in women’s sports by preventing what they see as physical advantages held by transgender women. Critics, however, call it a discriminatory move that restricts the rights of transgender athletes and fuels political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.

The executive order also reaches beyond domestic competition. It instructs federal agencies, including the Department of State and Department of Justice, to enforce restrictions on transgender female athletes — including denying visas to international competitors who are transgender and pressuring the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its inclusive policies.

Currently, the IOC allows transgender athletes to compete under guidelines that aim to ensure no athlete has an unfair physical advantage, focusing on factors such as testosterone levels. However, the new U.S. stance could influence international discourse as the country prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

While the actual number of transgender athletes impacted by this policy remains low, its broader implications for civil rights, inclusion in sport, and international athletics governance are likely to generate continued controversy in the months ahead.