The US Senate has rejected an amendment that would have banned transgender athletes from participating in women's sports, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump's agenda. The vote, which took place during a rare weekend session, saw the amendment fail by 49 votes to 41.
The amendment was part of a broader voting bill that the Senate is currently debating. The bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives, includes stringent new voter registration requirements and a mandate for photo ID at polling places. President Trump had insisted on adding the sports ban and a complete prohibition on mail-in voting to the legislation.
Despite the ongoing debate, Democrats are widely expected to block the overall voting bill. Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member Senate but lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that no final decisions have been made on how to conclude the debate, but emphasised the importance of a fulsome discussion.
The rejected amendment would have penalised educational institutions receiving federal funding if they allowed individuals assigned male at birth to participate in women's or girls' athletic programmes. President Trump has also called for Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries for minors as part of the voting bill, though it remains unclear whether the Senate will hold a vote on that measure.
The proposed ban on mail-in voting, which Trump has long criticised, is expected to face strong opposition from lawmakers. Trump has previously used claims about mail-in ballot fraud to challenge his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden.
