Who Is Damien Lehfeldt? USA Fencing Chief Attacked Over Transgender Rules
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Damien Lehfeldt, of the organization USA Fencing, testified in Congress yesterday during a hearing which examined the participation of transgender women in sport. He was questioned by House Republicans on his views on the matter, which has become one of the most contentious issues in sport. He said that transgender participation in fencing posed no greater safety risks than single or mixed-gender participation.
Newsweek has reached out to USA Fencing via email for comment outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
The hearing comes amid a broader conversation about transgender women in sport, which is playing out across the world. Since his reelection, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order which banned transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sports. Organizations such as the English Football Association, the regulatory body for soccer in the country, have put in place similar bans.
USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" at the U.S. Capitol on May 7, 2025. in Washington, DC.
USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" at the U.S. Capitol on May 7, 2025. in Washington, DC.What To Know
Lehfeldt spoke at the at the hearing on "Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol.
The decision from House Republicans to subpoena Lehfeldt follows an incident in March of this year. During USA Fencing's Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30, a fencer named Stephanie Turner took a knee rather than competing against a 20-year-old transgender woman, Redmond Sullivan.
Turner forfeited the match and was hit with a 12-month probation period from the sport.
USA Fencing rules stipulate that a fencer cannot refuse to compete against any qualified fencer who has entered a tournament. Any fencer who violates this rule is then automatically placed on a 12-month probation.
The current policy of USA Fencing, which has been in place since 2023 allows transgender and nonbinary individuals to compete "in a manner consistent with their gender identity/ expression, regardless of the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth."
Lehfeldt was questioned on this policy in Congress by lawmakers including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace.
Who Is Stephanie Turner?
Turner is a 31-year-old fencer. The video of her refusing to compete against Sullivan went viral, and she has been commended by figures including J.K. Rowling and Mace, both of whom are known for their vocal opinions on trans people, for her decision not to compete.
Turner told Fox News of her decision, "When I took the knee, I looked at the ref and I said, 'I'm sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women's tournament. And I will not fence this individual."
Speaking to the House DOGE subcommittee, she said that she felt betrayed by USA Fencing. "I had been defrauded of a women's tournament and sold a lie by USA Fencing she said." Turner added that she felt "isolated" and "strangled," by USA Fencing for disagreeing with their transgender policy.
Who Is Damien Lefheldt?
Lehfeldt is the chair of the board of directors for USA Fencing, which is the national governing body which oversees fencing in the U.S. He was elected to the organization's board of directors in 2023 and has served as chair since 2024.
He has expressed support for transgender women in sport, though USA Fencing's policy on transgender women predates his position on the board.
In a statement shared at the subcommittee, Lehfeldt said: "USA Fencing has long sponsored mixed-gender competitions in which men and women freely compete against each other. Indeed, the majority of USA Fencing tournaments—particularly at the local level—are mixed-gender competitions."
The statement continued: "That significant body of experience has taught us that mixed-gender competition, in fencing at least, does not pose any significant safety risks above and beyond single-gender fencing competition. The same is true for fencing involving transgender participation."
Lehfeldt's involvement in fencing spans decades. He began his journey as a young épée fencer, competing through his college years at Brandeis University and participating in events like the Maccabi Games. He later moved into coaching, including a tenure at the Richmond Fencing Club.
What People Are Saying
J.K. Rowling, the writer on X: "This woman will go down in sporting history as a heroine and USA Fencing will be remembered for their profound misogyny for forcing her and other women, into this situation."
Shane Diamond, GLAAD's director of communications and transgender advocacy, said in an email shared with Newsweek: "Sport is a human right and should remain open and accessible to anyone who wants to participate, inclusive of their gender identity. "
Representative Nancy Mace on X: "I asked if Fencing's Chair Damein Lehfeldt would apologize to women's fencing hero Stephanie Turner. For how they treated her for standing up for herself and standing against men in women's fencing. He refused. Real men protect women. This guy ain't one."
Damien Lehfeldt, Chair of the Board of Directors of USA Fencing in a statement: "USA Fencing is committed to fairness, safety, and integrity. Those remain the organization's guiding principles. USA Fencing also is committed to complying with its obligations under the law. If the law and evidence around this issue change, so, too, will USA Fencing's policies."
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on X: "I asked if USA Fencing's Chair Damien Lehfeldt would want his daughter changing in front of a man. He couldn't say "NO." That tells you EVERYTHING. These people have lost all common sense."
What's Next
Trump's executive order has reshaped transgender inclusion in sports. The future remains uncertain and the debate over fairness, inclusion, and athlete rights continues.
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