Trending Now - Senate Rejects Amendment on Transgender Athletes in Voting Bill

WHO:

President Trump

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Republican senators

Democratic lawmakers

WHAT:

The Senate blocked an amendment that would ban transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports.

The amendment was rejected by a vote of 49-41.

The proposed amendment would penalize educational institutions receiving federal funding if they allowed individuals assigned male at birth to participate in women’s sports.

Trump has expressed a desire for Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries for some minors.

Trump wants the House-passed voting bill to include a ban on most mail-in voting.

WHERE:

Washington, D.C. (location of the Senate)

WHEN:

The Senate session occurred on Saturday, March 21st, 2026.

The House passed the voting bill earlier in 2026.

WHY:

The amendment was part of President Trump's priorities as he pressures Congress to act on a broad voting bill.

The voting legislation aims to implement strict new requirements for voter registration and require photo IDs at the polls to prevent illegal voting.

HOW:

The Senate held a rare weekend session to debate the voting legislation.

Republicans are attempting to put the legislation on the Senate floor for debate despite lacking enough support to overcome the legislative filibuster, which requires a 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 21:01 UTC)

In a significant development from Washington, D.C., the Senate blocked an amendment that would have banned transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, with the proposal rejected by a vote of 49 to 41 during a rare weekend session. This amendment was part of President Trump's broader priorities as he pressures Congress to act on a voting bill that aims to implement strict new requirements for voter registration and mandate photo IDs at the polls. Trump has also expressed a desire for Congress to include a ban on most mail-in voting in the House-passed legislation, which is currently facing challenges in the Senate due to insufficient support to overcome the filibuster.