The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to resolve Title IX violations concerning transgender swimmer Lia Thomas competing on the women's team during the 2021/22 season.
The Department of Education announced that Penn will adopt definitions for male and female consistent with biological sex as part of the resolution agreement.
The university will also erase Thomas from school records and therefore restore titles and records to female athletes who competed against the transgender swimmer.
This marks a significant reversal in policy following pressure from the Trump administration.
Lia Thomas won in the 2022 NCAA Championships
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The Trump administration suspended $175 million in federal funding to Penn to secure compliance with Title IX regulations.
The funding had been earmarked by the Defence Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Unlike Maine, which continues to resist federal government findings of Title IX violations, Penn chose to comply rather than forfeit the substantial federal support.
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The private university received approximately $1 billion in federal funds in 2024, making the threatened suspension a significant financial pressure point.
Penn will issue personal apologies to each affected female swimmer as part of the resolution.
Paula Scanlan, a former team-mate who shared changing facilities with Thomas, expressed gratitude for the outcome.
"I am deeply grateful to the Trump administration for standing firm in protecting women and girls and restoring our rightful accolades," Scanlan told OutKick.
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She described suffering emotional distress from being required to change with a biological male in the women's locker room throughout an entire season.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the resolution as demonstrating "the Trump effect in action."
McMahon said in a statement: "Today is a great victory for women and girls, not only at the University of Penn, but all across our nation."
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Riley Gaines has supported Donald Trump's movement to stop trans athletes competing in women's sports
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She emphasised the importance of Penn apologising to female athletes and restoring records to "the women who actually did win them, save for competing against a man."
Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas for fifth place at the 2022 NCAA Championships, called the agreement proof of the administration's commitment to protecting women's rights.
Thomas won a national title in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Finals whilst competing in women's events.
The swimmer had previously competed as a male before receiving hormone replacement therapy and joining the women's team.
The NCAA has since changed its policy to align with Trump's executive order aimed at banning transgender athletes from female sports.
Thomas was subsequently banned from elite women's competitions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled the swimmer ineligible to challenge World Aquatics policy on trans athletes.
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