To prohibit the participation of males in athletic programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3917
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-27T08:06:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to prevent males from participating in athletic programs or activities at U.S. military service academies that are specifically designated for women or girls, emphasizing separation based on biological sex at birth.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Participation: The Secretary of Defense must ensure that the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Naval Academy (Annapolis), and the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs) do not allow any person identified as male to join or compete in women's or girls' designated athletic programs or activities.
- Rule of Construction: Males may still train or practice with women's teams, but only if this does not reduce opportunities for females, such as roster spots, practice or competition access, scholarships, school admission, or other related benefits.
- Definitions:
- "Athletic programs and activities" include any programs tied to participation on an athletic team.
- "Sex" is defined as a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth (this excludes gender identity or transitions later in life).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a federal mandate restricting participation in women's athletics at military academies based solely on biological sex at birth, potentially overriding current Department of Defense policies that might allow transgender individuals (born male) to compete in women's sports under certain conditions.
- It aligns with broader efforts to define sex biologically in federal contexts but specifically targets military education institutions, differing from general Title IX (a law promoting gender equity in education) interpretations that have evolved to include transgender protections in some cases.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Defense and its academies would need to update policies, training, and enforcement mechanisms to comply, possibly requiring new oversight or audits to verify adherence.
- Citizens: Cadets and applicants at these academies, especially transgender women (born male), could face barriers to participating in women's sports, affecting their athletic, educational, and career opportunities within the military. Female cadets might gain protected access to resources without competition from biological males.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is focused on domestic military education.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Military Academy Cadets and Students: Particularly women and girls in athletics, who may benefit from protected spaces, and transgender individuals, who could be excluded.
- Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense: Responsible for implementation and ensuring compliance across the three academies.
- Congress and Armed Services Committees: Involved in oversight, funding, and potential amendments to military policies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: May conflict with evolving interpretations of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education (including military academies). It could lead to lawsuits challenging the bill's sex definition as discriminatory against transgender people under anti-discrimination laws.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about equal protection under the 14th Amendment (which requires fair treatment under the law) and due process, as it categorizes participation by birth biology, potentially affecting privacy rights related to gender identity.
- Political: Highlights debates over gender in sports and military inclusion, likely sparking partisan divisions; as an introduced bill (not yet law), it reflects congressional efforts to address transgender policies in federal institutions but faces uncertain passage.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Cosponsors (27)
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To prohibit the participation of males in athletic programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls. — issued 2025-06-11 — PDF (2 pages)