The University of Pennsylvania will send formal letters of apology to every female athlete who was required to compete against biological males during past athletic seasons, following a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.
The action comes after a federal investigation found that the university’s previous policies allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in women’s events violated Title IX protections for female athletes.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the resolution during a press briefing on Monday, stating that UPenn will not only issue personalized apologies, but also restore all affected records, placements, and honors to the rightful biological female athletes.
The university has also agreed to adopt biology-based definitions of sex and will formally prohibit biological males from participating in women’s sports or using female-designated locker rooms and facilities.
Lia Thomas, a biological male who competed on the UPenn men’s swim team before transitioning, made national headlines in 2022 after becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s championship.
The decision to allow Thomas to compete against women sparked widespread controversy, with numerous teammates and female athletes accusing the university of ignoring their concerns in order to promote political agendas.
The Department of Education, under President Trump’s administration, launched a civil rights investigation into the university earlier this year. That investigation concluded that UPenn’s actions violated Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
In response, the Education Department froze more than $175 million in federal research funding to the university, prompting negotiations that led to the current settlement.
Secretary McMahon described the outcome as a landmark moment in restoring fairness to women’s sports. “This administration stands firmly on the side of biological women and their right to equal athletic opportunity,” she said. “This agreement ensures that those rights are no longer sacrificed for ideological experiments.”
Former UPenn swimmers impacted by the policy welcomed the decision. Paula Scanlan, who previously spoke out about the issue, said the apology letters represent long-overdue recognition of the harm caused.
Riley Gaines, a national advocate for women’s sports, also praised the Trump administration for taking what she called “decisive and moral action.”
As part of the agreement, UPenn will also issue a public statement acknowledging that its past policies were unfair to female athletes.
The university has not yet commented on when the apology letters will be sent but is expected to begin the process immediately to remain in compliance with the Department of Education’s terms.
The decision is expected to influence future Title IX enforcement nationwide, setting a precedent for how schools manage athletic participation amid ongoing debates surrounding gender identity and sports.
