Context:

Stephanie Turner and Payton McNabb testified at a chaotic DOGE subcommittee hearing on the impact of trans athletes in women's sports, facing unexpected remarks from some Democrats. The hearing, titled 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports', saw Rep. Jasmine Crockett, among others, divert attention away from the core issue, frustrating the athletes. McNabb, who suffered a brain injury from a volleyball match with a trans opponent, was particularly upset by suggestions to ban spiking rather than addressing gender eligibility. Turner expressed her disappointment with USA Fencing's policies after being punished for refusing to compete against a trans athlete and faced the organization's chair during the hearing. The event underscored the tension between protecting women's sports and inclusivity, with calls for policy amendments and further investigations by the Education Department's Title IX team.

Dive Deeper:

• Stephanie Turner and Payton McNabb shared their experiences during a DOGE subcommittee hearing focused on trans athletes' participation in women's sports, which was marked by heated exchanges and disruptions from some Democrats. They felt frustrated as the conversation was repeatedly diverted from the main issue of protecting women's sports.

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett's actions during the hearing included a controversial 'Trump or Trans' game, which sought to blame President Trump or trans people for various issues, leaving Turner and McNabb feeling mocked and disrespected. They were further disheartened by Crockett's attempts to appear supportive, which they saw as insincere.

• McNabb recounted her permanent brain injury from a volleyball match against a trans opponent, expressing disbelief at suggestions to ban spiking as a solution. She found it offensive and dismissive of the real issue, which she believes is the inclusion of biological males in women's sports.

• Turner, who gained attention for refusing to compete against a trans fencer, criticized USA Fencing's policies and faced the organization's chair, Damien Lehfeldt, at the hearing. She was penalized with a black card and a 12-month probation for her stance, highlighting the organization's pro-trans policies.

• Rep. Nancy Mace challenged Lehfeldt to apologize to Turner, but he refused, leading to further tension. Turner emphasized that an apology without action is meaningless and called for concrete changes to gender eligibility policies to protect women athletes.

• The hearing also included controversial comments from Rep. Lateefah Simon, who linked trans athlete restrictions to racial segregation, which Turner, as a Black woman, found deeply offensive. This highlighted the broader societal and racial implications of the trans athlete debate.

• In response to the hearing's events, the Education Department's Title IX investigations team plans to examine the incident involving Turner and trans competitor Redmond Sullivan, signaling potential policy evaluations and amendments in the future.