Chaos Erupts at DOGE Hearing on Women's Sports and Trans Athletes
A House subcommittee hearing on protecting women’s sports devolved into shouting matches and accusations, spotlighting the contentious issue of transgender athletes.
The House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) hearing titled “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” turned chaotic as representatives clashed over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The session, led by Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, saw heated exchanges, notably between Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Fatima Goss Graves, CEO of the National Women’s Law Center.
Mace challenged Graves with the direct question, “What is a woman?” leading to a fiery debate that included accusations of lunacy and disrespectful interruptions. The tension escalated when Mace called Graves and USA Fencing chair Damien Lehfeldt “shameful” and “groomers,” demanding an apology for a female fencer punished by Lehfeldt’s organization.
The hearing also featured confrontations between Greene and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), who continued speaking past her allotted time to affirm support for the transgender community, prompting Greene to repeatedly slam her gavel in an attempt to restore order.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) added to the tumultuous atmosphere with a game called “Trump or Trans,” humorously attributing various issues to either former President Trump or transgender individuals. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) raised concerns that laws aimed at protecting women’s sports could lead to racial segregation and intrusive genital inspections for female athletes.
The hearing highlighted the deep divisions and strong emotions surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, with no clear resolution reached amidst the disorder.