HR3917-119

What This Bill Does

This bill sets a sex-at-birth eligibility rule for women's and girls' athletic programs at the three named federal military service academies. The Defense Secretary must ensure that the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy do not permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity designated for women or girls. The bill defines sex as reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It does not bar males from training or practicing with women's or girls' teams if no female is deprived of a roster spot, opportunity to participate in practice or competition, scholarship, academy admission, or any other athletic-program benefit. The measure gives academy administrators a federal duty to police eligibility and creates a categorical exclusion for transgender women and girls from covered participation, while preserving limited practice participation when female athletes do not lose benefits.

Who Benefits and How

Female cadet athletes benefit because roster spots, scholarships, competition access, and related benefits in academy women's sports are protected under a sex-at-birth rule. Military academy athletic departments benefit from a uniform federal eligibility standard for covered teams. Supporters of sex-based athletic categories benefit because the bill codifies their preferred participation rule at service academies. Female recruits considering academy sports benefit if they view the rule as protecting women's team opportunities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Transgender women cadets bear the burden because they are categorically barred from participating on covered women's or girls' teams. The Defense Secretary must enforce the eligibility rule across the three academies. Academy compliance staff must review team participation, practice arrangements, scholarships, and related benefits. Coaches of women's teams must structure any training or practice by males so no female athlete loses a listed opportunity or benefit.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits males from participating in military academy athletic programs designated for women or girls.
• Requires eligibility decisions to use reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
• Directs the Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy to apply the same covered athletics rule.
• Limits practice or training by males to situations where no female loses a roster spot, competition opportunity, scholarship, admission, or related benefit.