Bill S. 1988: A New Era for Equality in Sports at the Military Service Academies
On June 9, 2025, Senator TJ [UBERVILLE] introduced a bill (S. 1988) to prohibit male participation in athletic programs or activities designated for women or girls at the military service academies.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Section 1: Prohibition on Male Participation
- The bill aims to ensure that male students do not participate in athletic programs or activities designed for women or girls at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.
- As stated in Section 1(a), “The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy do not permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a recipient from permitting males to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or opportunity to participate in a practice or competition,” reads Section 1(b).
Definitions
- Athletic Programs and Activities
- In this section, “athletic programs and activities” includes all programs or activities provided conditional upon participation with any athletic team.
- Sex
- The term “sex” means a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
The bill is available for review on the official government website: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119s1988is
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