U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female sports categories.

The order establishes regulations and legal interpretations and directs the Department of Education to investigate high schools that fail to comply.

Republicans claim this measure restores fairness in sports. However, LGBT rights organizations consider it discriminatory.

Effective immediately, the order primarily impacts high schools, universities, and grassroots sports nationwide.

Several sports governing bodies, including swimming, track and field, and golf, have already banned transgender women from elite female competitions if they underwent male puberty.

According to the White House, this order authorizes the Department of Education to assess how schools enforce Title IX, a law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.

An official stated that the order reverses Biden’s stance, which last April protected LGBT students without setting specific rules for transgender athletes.

Trump warned that if schools allow “men to take over women’s sports teams or use their locker rooms,” they will be investigated and risk losing federal funding.

Additionally, the White House plans to invite sports organizations, such as the NCAA, to meet with female athletes and their families to discuss their concerns.