Michigan Republicans Slam MHSAA in Fiery Press Conference: ‘Follow Trump’s Order or Lose Funding

GOP Lawmakers Demand Protection for Women’s Sports as MHSAA Digs In, Citing State Law Clash

On March 6, 2025, Michigan Republicans intensified their push for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed in early February 2025. The order mandates that educational institutions receiving federal funding ensure sports participation aligns with athletes’ biological sex, aiming to protect women’s sports by barring transgender girls.

Michigan Republicans, including state senators and representatives, have framed this as a matter of fairness, safety, and compliance with federal policy, while the MHSAA has resisted immediate action, citing legal uncertainties and state law conflicts.

During the news conference, it was revealed that, as of now, there are no trans high school athletes participating in spring sports.

The campaign began gaining traction in February when Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) appeared on The Steve Gruber Show on February 21, urging the MHSAA to comply or face consequences like the withdrawal of federal funds. Walberg argued that the MHSAA’s reluctance to enforce the order undermined female athletes’ rights. This sentiment was echoed by State Senator Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), who, on February 11, warned that the MHSAA’s defiance could jeopardize funding for Michigan schools. State Representative Jason Woolford (R-Howell) went further, introducing House Bill 4066 on February 13, which would legally require Michigan schools to separate athletes by biological sex, aligning state policy with Trump’s order.

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The pressure culminated in a news conference held today, March 6, 2025 in Lansing, where Michigan Republican lawmakers, led by State Senator Lana Theis (R-Brighton), publicly demanded MHSAA compliance. Theis, joined by Representative Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) and other GOP colleagues, criticized the MHSAA for “doubling down” on its current policy, which allows transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports with a waiver. Theis called the MHSAA’s stance “a blatant disregard for fairness and the law,” emphasizing that Trump’s order was clear: schools permitting male participation in women’s sports risk losing federal support. Hall reinforced this, stating, “President Trump delivered results nationwide, but here in Michigan, the MHSAA is refusing to protect girls’ sports. It’s time to stop delaying and follow the law.”

The lawmakers highlighted the executive order’s language, which declares it U.S. policy to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities,” arguing that the MHSAA’s inaction could have broader financial implications for Michigan’s education system. They also pointed to the NCAA’s recent policy shift to comply with the order as evidence that change was feasible and necessary.

The MHSAA’s reaction, delivered via a statement from Director of Communications Geoff Kimmerly shortly after the news conference at around 10:00 AM EST, maintained its cautious approach. Kimmerly reiterated that the association is “awaiting further guidance” on how the executive order aligns with Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, amended in 1976 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression. “We’re continuing to go with our policy as is,” Kimmerly said, noting that only two waivers for transgender girls were granted in the 2024-2025 school year out of approximately 175,000 student-athletes, suggesting the issue’s limited scope. He added that the MHSAA, a private nonprofit overseeing interscholastic athletics, is consulting legal experts to assess whether compliance with Trump’s order might violate state law, potentially sparking a legal conflict between federal and state authority.