Republican-led US House advances limits for transgender student athletes

WASHINGTON : The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill supported by Republican President-elect Donald Trump to essentially ban transgender girls and women from competing in school sports by withholding federal funds from schools that do not comply.

The bill, called the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025," passed the Republican-controlled House with a 218-206 vote. Two Democrats, Henry Cuellar and Vincente Gonzalez, joined Republicans to advance the legislation, an increase from last term when no Democrat supported the measure.

One other Democrat voted "present." The bill faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate. With a 53-47 majority, Republicans would be able to bring the bill up for a vote but may not be able to pass it given the chamber's filibuster rule that requires 60 members to agree on most legislation.

It is unclear if any Senate Democrat would support the bill.

"We know from Scripture and from nature that men are men and women are women and men cannot become women. It's sad that we have to say that," Speaker Mike Johnson said after the bill's passage, citing a religious basis for why competition limits for transgender student athletes are appropriate.

No. 3 House Democrat Pete Aguilar, argued before the vote that the bill has unintended consequences and "puts kids at risk" for government "inspections" of transgender students.

"There is concern that will be abused," Aguilar told reporters.

About 3 per cent of American high school students identify as transgender, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October. But across the U.S., 25 states so far have implemented some laws limiting transgender student-athletes from participating in