California Faces Federal Lawsuit Over School Sports Rules
The U.S. Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The agencies are being accused of violating federal civil rights laws by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ school sports teams.
Accusations of Sex-Based Discrimination
According to the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, California’s refusal to bar transgender athletes constitutes “illegal sex discrimination against female student-athletes.” Despite repeated warnings from the Trump administration, both state agencies have refused to change their stance.
Title IX at the Center of the Dispute
Earlier investigations by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) concluded that California’s policies violate Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools. The Trump administration interprets this law to exclude transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Trump’s Executive Order Against Trans Participation
President Trump signed an executive order in February, stating that allowing “male competitive participation in women’s sports” undermines the equal athletic opportunities guaranteed by Title IX.
California Refuses to Comply With Federal Mandate
The OCR gave California a July 7 deadline to agree to a resolution that would:
- Remove transgender girls from female sports teams
- Strip titles and records earned by trans athletes
- Send apology letters to cisgender girls who competed against them
California declined. In a statement, Len Garfinkel, general counsel for the state’s Department of Education, said the department “respectfully disagrees with OCR’s analysis.”
State Law Protects Transgender Athletes
California’s stance is backed by a 2013 law signed by former Governor Jerry Brown (D), which protects transgender students’ rights to participate in sports according to their gender identity. The Justice Department has since launched an investigation to determine if this law violates federal statutes.
Governor Newsom’s Comments Draw Attention
Governor Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate, has drawn criticism and attention for calling transgender participation in girls’ sports “deeply unfair” during a podcast in March.
At an April press conference, he said he was “open” to discussing limitations on trans athletes—as long as the conversation is “respectful and balanced.”
GOP Pressures Newsom to Take Action
Republican lawmakers and Trump officials have called on Newsom to stand by his words. Education Secretary Linda McMahon accused him of “empty political grandstanding” after the state rejected the federal agreement.
Attorney General Bondi: “This Is Illegal”
Attorney General Pam Bondi backed the lawsuit, stating:
“The Governor of California has previously admitted that it is ‘deeply unfair’ to force women and girls to compete with men and boys. But not only is it ‘deeply unfair,’ it is also illegal under federal law.”
Trump Admin Targets Other States Over Trans Policies
Since Trump returned to office in January, his administration has aggressively pursued restrictions on transgender athletes. Over two dozen states, school districts, and universities are currently under investigation.
Penn Bans Trans Athletes After Funding Threat
Last week, the University of Pennsylvania signed a resolution banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and revoking records held by Lia Thomas. The school had previously lost $175 million in federal contracts, which were restored after signing the agreement.
Maine and Minnesota Push Back on Federal Pressure
The DOJ has also sued the state of Maine over similar issues. Governor Janet Mills condemned the move, calling it “an unprecedented campaign” to undermine state authority.
In April, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued the Trump administration after the White House threatened to pull funding unless the state complied with the transgender sports ban.
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