Chaos Erupts on Capitol Hill as MTG Clashes With Witnesses in Heated Hearing on Women’s Sports and LGBTQ+ Policies

A congressional hearing intended to examine issues surrounding women’s sports and athletic policy quickly devolved into chaos this week, as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene delivered a blistering interrogation of USA Fencing Chair Peter Lefeld and sparred repeatedly with Democratic members of the committee.

Greene opened her questioning by pressing Lefeld on whether he believed women were safe competing against transgender athletes. Citing the testimony of a young woman who suffered a brain injury during a match, Greene repeatedly demanded yes-or-no answers regarding whether competitions involving transgender women were safe. Lefeld attempted to reference a 2010 Olympic safety study, but Greene cut him off, accusing him of avoiding accountability.

The exchange escalated when Greene asked whether it was “abusive” to require women to change in locker rooms alongside transgender women. Lefeld declined to comment on his daughter’s hypothetical participation, prompting Greene to accuse him of prioritizing political ideology over women’s safety.

Greene then shifted to USA Fencing’s site-selection guidelines, which consider abortion access and LGBTQ-related state policies when choosing venues for national competitions. “What does abortion have to do with fencing?” she demanded. Lefeld noted that the policy predated his tenure but said it had recently been amended to provide more flexibility for athletes seeking reproductive care during tournaments. Greene charged that the organization cared more about ideological criteria than the sport itself.

Democratic members objected repeatedly to Greene exceeding her allotted time, triggering further procedural disputes.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett highlighted a blog post Lefeld had written about the possibility of his daughter competing against a transgender woman, accusing him of contradicting his own stated beliefs. Greene interrupted, prompting the chair to intervene.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury used her time to denounce the hearing as “performance art,” accusing Republicans of weaponizing the subcommittee to target transgender youth. She argued that the hearing had nothing to do with traditional oversight responsibilities and instead reflected a pattern of “bullying” marginalized groups.

Stansbury also criticized recent political rhetoric, claiming it contributed to rising hostility and violence toward LGBTQ+ communities. Witness Fatima Goss Graves echoed those concerns, warning that stigmatizing language from government officials fosters real-world harm, including increased violence and suicide among transgender youth.

As the hearing spiraled into shouting matches, Republicans and Democrats clashed over timekeeping, procedural rules, and accusations of censorship.

The session ultimately concluded with both parties trading barbs over women’s rights, transgender protections, and broader political agendas — underscoring deep ideological divides that continue to shape congressional debate on gender, sports, and civil rights.