DOGE Subcommittee to Address Transgender Policies in USA Fencing
The DOGE subcommittee, led by Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, has scheduled a hearing to scrutinize USA Fencing’s transgender athlete policies following a controversial incident involving fencer Stephanie Turner.
In response to a highly publicized incident where women’s fencer Stephanie Turner knelt in protest during a competition against a transgender athlete, the DOGE subcommittee has announced a hearing set for May 7. The hearing will delve into USA Fencing’s current gender eligibility policies, which permit transgender athletes who have undergone testosterone suppression treatment to compete in women’s categories. Stephanie Turner, who faced penalties for refusing to compete against transgender fencer Redmond Sullivan, has been invited to testify alongside Damien Lehfeldt, the board chair of USA Fencing.
Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized the importance of preserving women’s sports, stating, “Women’s sports are for women only. Radical leftists pushing to let biological men compete against women are destroying fair competition and putting female athletes in physical danger.” She criticized USA Fencing for allegedly demeaning women and non-compliance with President Trump’s executive order, suggesting that the organization’s status as the National Governing Body for fencing could be at risk.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also announced the formation of a Title IX investigations team to probe the incident involving Turner and Sullivan. USA Fencing has committed to cooperating with this investigation. The controversy gained international attention after Turner’s protest went viral, sparking debates on the fairness and safety of transgender inclusion in women’s sports.
USA Fencing defended its policy, stating it aims to create inclusive and safe spaces for all athletes. However, the organization’s approach has been contentious, especially after it decided to give preference to host cities without laws harmful to the LGBTQ community and women’s reproductive health. This policy shift, along with the refusal to establish an all-female task force to revise the transgender policy, has fueled further controversy and criticism.