Washington D.C. – The U.S. Senate failed to advance S.9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, after a procedural vote fell short of the necessary threshold. The legislation aimed to define gender under Title IX as based on biological sex at birth and to prohibit federally funded athletic programs from allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Following the vote, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) issued a statement expressing her support for the bill and disappointment over its failure to advance.
“Today, I was proud to vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would codify President Trump’s recent executive order. For decades, Title IX has been instrumental to provide female student-athletes, like my daughter, the opportunity to compete fairly, gain leadership skills, and build their confidence. I am disappointed that the Senate failed to move forward on this commonsense bill. I will continue to fight to provide girls and women the opportunity to compete safely in sports for generations to come,” Britt stated.
Supporters of the bill argue that it reinforces the original intent of Title IX by ensuring a level playing field for female athletes. According to a recent New York Times poll, 79% of respondents indicated opposition to allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Several conservative organizations, including Independent Women’s Voice, Concerned Women for America, and Heritage Action for America, have endorsed the legislation.
Opponents of the measure contend that it discriminates against transgender athletes and undermines federal protections against gender-based discrimination. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups argue that such restrictions violate civil rights and could lead to exclusionary policies in schools and sports organizations.
The bill was introduced following a series of legal and administrative decisions surrounding Title IX. In December 2024, the Biden Administration withdrew a Department of Education rule that would have required schools to allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity or risk losing federal funding. Earlier this year, a federal judge in Kentucky struck down the Biden Administration’s broader Title IX policy, a decision supported by multiple states, including Alabama.
Senator Britt has co-sponsored the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in both the 118th and 119th Congresses. She has also joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in introducing a resolution to establish “American Girls in Sports Day,” aimed at recognizing the role of Title IX in women’s athletics.
With the bill failing to move forward, the debate over transgender participation in sports remains a contentious issue in both state and federal legislatures.
