In a fiery federal hearing that reignited national debate over gender policy in sports, Vice President J.D. Vance’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee put USA Fencing Chair Damien Lehfeldt in the hot seat — and for Stephanie Turner, the sidelined women’s fencer at the center of the storm, the moment was long overdue.
Just six weeks after Turner was disqualified and escorted out of a fencing tournament for kneeling in protest of competing against a transgender athlete, she watched from the sidelines as lawmakers grilled Lehfeldt over the incident and his inflammatory online behavior. What followed was a striking public reckoning — one that Turner says is only the beginning of her campaign to push for accountability at the highest levels of USA Fencing.
“I’d like to see some people resign,” Turner told Fox News Digital. “Especially the ones that are harassing and meant to humiliate concerned women, mothers, and daughters.”
Lehfeldt, who appeared before the subcommittee under subpoena, faced sharp criticism not just for USA Fencing’s transgender inclusion policy, but for his own conduct leading up to the hearing. Particularly damning was an Instagram story in which he cavalierly responded “yeah” when asked if he was okay with putting female fencers at a disadvantage — a post that quickly went viral and was used against him during questioning.
Under oath, Lehfeldt admitted he regretted the post, calling it lacking in nuance and acknowledging it did not reflect USA Fencing’s official stance. But for Turner, the damage was already done.
“He knows what he’s doing, and the intimidation tactics that he’s been employing online… It took a subpoenaed hearing for him to redact them,” she said.
Republican lawmakers didn’t hold back. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) called Lehfeldt’s stance “not what real men do” and demanded he apologize to Turner — a request he refused, citing that Turner was issued a black card for violating competition rules. But Turner wasn’t seeking an apology.
“I want more than an apology. I want a change in policy,” she said. “An apology is just empty words without actions.”
USA Fencing, for its part, responded with a carefully worded statement defending its leadership while hinting at possible policy revisions in the future. “No leadership changes are under consideration,” it stated, while confirming it was reviewing its gender eligibility standards in light of mounting scrutiny.
Originally enacted in 2023, USA Fencing’s policy allowed transgender women to compete in the women’s category after one year of testosterone suppression. But in late April, amid the Turner backlash, the organization announced proposed updates that could significantly alter that framework. If finalized, the revised policy would require athletes to compete according to their biological sex, preserving the women’s category exclusively for female-born athletes.
In the background, a separate federal investigation has also begun. Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that the newly formed Title IX investigations team will probe the Turner-Sullivan incident, adding another layer of pressure to USA Fencing.
For Turner, who is currently on hiatus from competition, the path forward is political, not athletic — at least for now.
“I don’t see how I can go back,” she said. “That’s just not a fight I want to be in the middle of right now. I’d rather take this fight elsewhere.”
And she just might. Turner’s case has become a symbol for a growing movement demanding strict biological standards in women’s sports — and this latest hearing has only galvanized its supporters. Whether or not USA Fencing’s leadership holds, the ground beneath them is clearly shifting.
