U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s hallmark legislation aimed at protecting female athletes from having to compete against transgender males failed to gain the necessary votes required to overcome a legislative filibuster on Monday evening.
To defeat the filibuster, Senate Republicans needed 60 votes in favor of the bill, but only received 51.
All Democrats in the U.S. Senate voted against the legislation.
The bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would ensure Title IX provisions treat gender as “recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” It would also ban recipients of federal funding from operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic programs that permit a male to participate in a women’s sporting event.
Following the legislation’s failure, Tuberville (R-Auburn) vowed that the fight wasn’t over.
Well, at least now the American people know the truth.
Even after @realdonaldtrump’s landslide election, Democrats STILL support men competing in women’s sports.
This is far from over. I’ll NEVER stop fighting to protect women and girls.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) March 4, 2025
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, who co-sponsored the bill, also promised to continue fighting for female athletes following the vote.
“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,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “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.”
Two Republicans were absent from the vote, as were two Democrats.
Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order entitled ‘Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports, ‘ which accomplishes the goals set in Tuberville’s legislation. Had the bill been passed, Trump’s order would have been codified.
According to a recent New York Times poll, 79% of Americans believe that biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
The White House also issued a statement yesterday advocating for the Senate bill’s passage, saying it would solidify an executive order issued last month with the same aim.
“The Administration strongly supports passage of S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025. Through an amendment to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, this bill would expressly recognize what is already federal law—that it is an illegal act of discrimination for a man to participate in a federally funded athletic program or activity designated for women or girls,” the White House said on Monday.
This bill also recognizes that “sex,” as used in the statutory scheme, is based solely on reproductive biology and genetics. Men participating in women’s sports not only is demeaning and dangerous to women and girls, but it erodes the integrity of our Nation’s civil rights laws. Congress’s affirmative vote on this bill would complement both federal court rulings and President Trump’s February 5, 2025, Executive Order, ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.’”
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
