Riley Gaines Praises Trump Administration for Halting Federal Funds to UPenn

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimming champion from the University of Kentucky, has commended the Trump administration for its decisive action in pausing $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The halt comes in response to UPenn's inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, a decision that has sparked heated national debate.

"The Trump administration has yet again taken swift action to uphold common sense and preserve women's opportunities," said Gaines, now the host of the "Gaines for Girls" podcast. She told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, "UPenn allowed a male to compete in women’s swimming, stripping female athletes like myself and my teammates of their hard-earned podium spots, trophies, and records. All while forcing us to share a locker room with this fully intact man who exposed himself to us."

Gaines added that this move "sends a clear message: institutions that disregard the integrity of women’s sports and the rights of female athletes will face consequences. More of this."

The administration's actions follow President Trump’s recent executive order, "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," signed on February 5. A senior administration official confirmed the $175 million funding pause, though this sum represents only a fraction of UPenn's reported $1 billion in total federal funding.

In response, a spokesperson for UPenn stated that the university has received no "official notification" of the funding suspension. The spokesperson emphasized that UPenn has adhered to NCAA and Ivy League policies, asserting, "We are in full compliance with the regulations that apply to us and our peer institutions."

Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American and a vocal advocate for women's sports, gained national attention in 2022 when she tied with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from UPenn, in the NCAA National Championships. Despite tying for fifth place, the trophy was awarded to Thomas for photo opportunities—a moment that Gaines has described as emblematic of the inequities she believes plague women's sports.

UPenn now faces a broader investigation for potential Title IX violations, which could jeopardize all its federal funding. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor confirmed that both UPenn and two other institutions—San Jose State University and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association—are under scrutiny for suspected violations related to transgender participation in sports.

This latest development highlights the intensifying debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in competitive sports and the broader implications for fairness and equality in athletics.