Florida AG threatens to sue US Masters Swimming over gender-participation policy

Education Secretary Linda McMahon joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss the Justice Department’s lawsuit against California over alleged Title IX violations tied to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Tuesday urged U.S. Masters Swimming to certify it will change its gender participation policy that allows its biological male members to compete against females or enter their locker room.

Uthmeier made the demand at a news conference and said the Florida-based organization will face a lawsuit if it fails to comply with the orders. The U.S. Masters Swimming Board of Directors and Rules Committee updated its participation guidelines last month.

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks during a news conference at the Orlando Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, where he asserted that U.S. Masters Swimming, a nonprofit in Florida, should no longer allow transgender athletes to compete against women swimmers  or face legal action. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

"USMS allows members to register for the competition category that aligns with their gender identity and/or expression and to participate in sanctioned events in that category," the new guidelines stated. 

"However, swimmers will not be included in Recognition Programs (as defined above) unless they are swimming in the competition category that aligns with their sex assigned at birth or they meet the eligibility requirements" outlined in its statement.

To be eligible for the U.S. Masters Swimming’s women’s recognition programs, the policy stated that "Members of the Female Sex are eligible for