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The Minnesota division of USA Fencing has announced a shift towards sanctioning mixed-gender events only, following new regulations preventing biological male transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions.
Last month, USA Fencing altered its policies to ensure that only biological females can compete in the women’s category, in accordance with the updated athlete safety policy from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) endorsing President Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.
As a response, the Minnesota USA Fencing division is making sure that every event it sanctions will permit biological males to compete against females, criticizing USA Fencing’s new policy as “harmful.”
“The Minnesota Division wishes to reaffirm our commitment to inclusion and recognize the negative impact of the new USA Fencing policy aligned with the USOPC guidelines,” the announcement stated. “The recent changes in the USA Fencing policy, in line with USOPC guidelines, has caused distress and confusion within the fencing community.”
The announcement emphasized the division’s obligation to adhere to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which safeguards gender identity.
“We are currently seeking guidance on how to proceed without violating either the USA Fencing policy or the Minnesota Human Rights Act. As a result, only mixed events will be sanctioned at this time,” the announcement concluded.
Lauren Scruggs, right, competes against Alice Volpi in the women’s foil team gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Katie Goodale-USA Today Sports)
“Trans and nonbinary fencers belong here, and we see you.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to USA Fencing for a response.
USA Fencing has faced considerable scrutiny as a USOPC governing body amid a series of controversies in 2025.
Since April 2, when footage of women’s fencer Stephanie Turner kneeling to protest a trans opponent at a competition in Maryland went viral, USA Fencing has been under intense scrutiny for its gender eligibility policy. Turner was disqualified and given a black card for refusing to face the trans opponent, sparking widespread backlash against USA Fencing.
The controversy led to a federal hearing on May 7, where the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee’s “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” saw Turner testify against USA Fencing chair Damien Lehfeldt.
In early June, USA Fencing’s board of directors voted to amend its previous policy that prioritized states with LGBTQ-friendly laws for host sites for competitions, and a policy that may have prevented the playing of the national anthem at some events. Both policies were heavily criticized following Turner’s viral protest.
A week later, two USA Fencing board of directors members filed a lawsuit against the other six at-large members, alleging that Lehfeldt made false statements to Congress at the May 7 hearing. The plaintiffs, Andrey Geva and Abdel Salem, have deep ties to the sport and organization, having previously coached or competed for Team USA.
Responding to the lawsuit, USA Fencing stated to Fox News Digital, “this derivative lawsuit misrepresents our organization, and we will vigorously defend the organization in court; any attempt to disparage them will be addressed appropriately.”
Minnesota has been one of the most resistant states to Trump’s executive order protecting women’s sports.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education have initiated Title IX investigations into the state for policies allowing trans athletes in women’s and girls’ sports. The DOE investigation was escalated to the federal Title IX investigation team, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, on June 12.
The state is also embroiled in two lawsuits regarding the issue, one filed by state Attorney General Keith Ellison against the Trump administration, and another filed by three anonymous girls softball players against Ellison and the state for having to compete with a transgender pitcher in the 2025 season.
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In a surprising turn of events, a local bakery in town has been named the best bakery in the state by a prestigious food magazine. The bakery, known for its delectable pastries and cakes, has been a favorite among locals for years.
The owner of the bakery, Jane Smith, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and credited her dedicated team of bakers for the success. “We take pride in using only the finest ingredients and putting love and care into each and every one of our creations,” she said.
Customers of the bakery were thrilled to hear the news, with many expressing their excitement on social media. One customer wrote, “I’ve been coming to this bakery for years, and I’m so happy to see them get the recognition they deserve!”
The bakery is now planning a special celebration to thank their loyal customers for their support over the years. With this new title under their belt, the future looks bright for this beloved local establishment.
