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Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump administration sues California over transgender athlete policies
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — President Donald Trump's administration sued the California Department of Education on Wednesday for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams , alleging the policy violates federal law. The move escalates a battle between the Republican administration in Washington and Democratic-led California over trans athletes .
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration sues California over transgender athlete policies
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration sued the California Department of Education on Wednesday for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. The move escalates a battle between the Republican administration in Washington and Democratic-led California over trans athletes. Advertisement The lawsuit filed by the Justice Department says California's transgender athlete policies violate Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. The department says California's rules 'are not only illegal and unfair but also demeaning, signaling to girls that their opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys.' U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned other states that allow trans girls to compete in female athletics that they could also face challenges by the federal government. 'If you do not comply, you're next,' she said in a video posted on social media. 'We will protect girls in girls sports.' The state Education Department and the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports that was also named a defendant, said they would not comment on pending litigation. Advertisement California has a more than decade-old law on the books that allows students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, including on sports teams, and use bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity. Trump criticized the participation of a transgender high school student-athlete who won titles in the California track-and-field championships last month. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote in a letter after the meet that the California Interscholastic Federation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution by allowing trans girls to compete against other female athletes. The federal Education Department earlier this year launched an investigation into California's policies allowing athletes to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The agency said last month that the policies violate Title IX, and it gave the state 10 days to agree to change them. But the state this week refused. Trump also sparred with Maine's Democratic governor over that state's transgender-athlete policies. Gov. Janet Mills told the president in February, 'We'll see you in court,' over his threats to pull funding to the state over the issue. His administration filed a lawsuit in April alleging Maine violated Title IX by allowing trans girls and women to compete against other female athletes. Advertisement The Justice Department's lawsuit against California says its policies 'ignore undeniable biological differences between boys and girls, in favor of an amorphous 'gender identity.'' 'The results of these illegal policies are stark: girls are displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition,' the suit says. Meanwhile, on his podcast in March, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom angered some party allies when he questioned the fairness of trans girls competing in girls sports. GOP critics have called on the governor to back a ban, saying his remarks do not square with his actions. The issue is part of a nationwide battle over the rights of transgender youth in which states have limited transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. More than two dozen states have laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some of the policies have been blocked in court. Advertisement Trump signed an executive order in February aimed at barring trans girls and women from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Proponents of a ban, including the conservative California Family Council, say it would restore fairness in athletic competitions. But opponents, including the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality California, say bans are an attack on transgender youth. In Oregon, three high school track-and-field athletes filed a federal lawsuit against the state this week seeking to remove records set by transgender students and prevent them from participating in girls sports. They say allowing trans girls to compete against other female athletes is unfair and violates Title IX. The U.S. Education Department launched investigations earlier this year into Portland Public Schools and the state's governing body for high school sports to over alleged violations of Title IX in girls high school sports. Advertisement ___ Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington and Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, contributed. ___ Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna Sophie Austin, The Associated Press
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump administration sues California over transgender athlete policies
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration sued the California Department of Education on Wednesday for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. The move escalates an ongoing battle between the Republican administration in Washington and Democratic-led California over trans athletes competing in girls and women's sports. The lawsuit filed by the Justice Department says California's transgender athlete policies violate Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. The department says California's rules 'are not only illegal and unfair but also demeaning, signaling to girls that their opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys.' 'These discriminatory policies and practices ignore undeniable biological differences between boys and girls, in favor of an amorphous 'gender identity,'' the lawsuit says. 'The results of these illegal policies are stark: girls are displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition.' California has a more than decade-old law on the books that allows students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, including on sports teams, and use bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity. Trump criticized the participation of a transgender high school student-athlete who won titles in the California track-and-field championships last month. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote in a letter after the meet that the sports body running the final violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution by allowing trans girls to compete against other female athletes. The federal Education Department earlier this year launched an investigation into California's policies allowing athletes to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The agency said last month that the policies violate Title IX, and it gave the state 10 days to agree to change them. But the state this week refused. Trump also sparred with Maine's Democratic governor over the state's transgender-athlete policies. Gov. Janet Mills told the president in February, 'We'll see you in court,' over his threats to pull funding to the state over the issue. His administration filed a lawsuit in April alleging Maine violated Title IX by allowing trans girls and women to compete against other female athletes. Meantime, on his podcast in March, Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., angered some party allies when he questioned the fairness of trans girls competing in girls sports. GOP critics have called on the governor to back a ban, saying his remarks do not square with his actions. The issue is part of a nationwide battle over the rights of transgender youth in which states have limited transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. More than two dozen states have laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some of the policies have been blocked in court. Trump signed an executive order in February aimed at barring trans girls and women from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Proponents of a ban, including the conservative California Family Council, say it would restore fairness in athletic competitions. But opponents, including the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality California, say bans are an attack on transgender youth.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
California Rejects Trump Demand to Remove Trans Athletes From Women's Sports
California education officials this week formally rejected a federal demand to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports, a decision that the Trump administration indicated would result in repercussions. The administration nearly two weeks ago declared that the California Department of Education had violated federal law by allowing transgender girls to compete on female sports teams. It gave the state until Monday to reverse its policies or face 'imminent enforcement action.' President Trump and other federal officials ramped up their pressure on California after a trans girl qualified for California's state track and field meet at the end of May. The president at that time threatened to withhold federal funding from the state if it did not bar the trans athlete from competing in the girls competition at the event. The athlete was allowed to compete and finished in first place in the high jump and triple jump, but meet officials compromised by also awarding medals to girls based on where they would have finished had the trans girl not participated. Len Garfinkel, general counsel for the California Department of Education, notified the Trump administration on Monday that it 'respectfully disagrees' that the state had violated girls' rights under Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination, and would not comply with the administration's requests, according to a letter shared with The New York Times. The California Interscholastic Federation, a nongovernmental body that oversees high school sports in the state, also declined to change its policies, according to screenshots posted on X by Linda McMahon, the U.S. education secretary. Ms. McMahon signaled that California would face enforcement actions and that the state would hear next from Attorney General Pam Bondi. California has allowed transgender student athletes to compete on teams that align with their gender identities for more than a decade under a law signed in 2013. More than 20 states nationwide have similar policies. California leaders indicated last month that they had no intention of changing their policies, and complying with the Trump administration demand would have required a legislative change. Out of 5.8 million K-12 students in California public schools, fewer than 10 were estimated to be trans students participating in athletics, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office. But President Trump and other Republicans this year have seized on comments that Mr. Newsom made in March on his podcast. The governor, a Democrat, said that the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports was 'deeply unfair.' As the president demanded that California bar the trans athlete from the state track and field meet, he cited Mr. Newsom's own comments. Ms. McMahon did the same in a post on X on Monday. 'Turns out Gov. Newsom's acknowledgment that 'it's an issue of fairness' was empty political grandstanding,' she wrote.
New York Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump administration demands California change transgender athlete policy or face ‘imminent enforcement action'
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that the California Department of Education must forbid schools from allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports, among other changes to the state's transgender policies, within 10 days or 'risk imminent enforcement action.' The statement is the latest in a battle between the federal administration and some states over trans rights and the role of transgender women and girls in sports. Advertisement The U.S. Department of Education said that by allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports, the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education. A California law from 2013 allows transgender students to compete in sports aligned with their gender identity. While former President Joe Biden issued rules protecting transgender students under Title IX in 2024, the Department of Education announced in January that it would return to 2020 Title IX rules under the first Trump administration, enforcing Title IX 'on the basis of biological sex.' 'The California Department of Education believes all students should have the opportunity to learn and play at school, and we have consistently applied existing law in support of students' rights to do so,' Liz Sanders, director of communications at the California Department of Education, said in a statement. The California Interscholastic Federation told The Athletic in a statement that it does not comment on legal matters. The latest announcement from the U.S. Department of Education said that California must also forbid schools from allowing transgender girls to enter 'female intimate facilities.' Schools receiving federal funding must 'adopt biology-based definitions of the words 'male' and 'female'' and give awards and apology letters to athletes who lost awards to transgender athletes. The Trump administration also stated that the California Interscholastic Federation and schools receiving public funds must submit an annual certification regarding Title IX compliance to the California Department of Education, and that the California Department of Education must propose a plan to monitor compliance with the Office of Civil Rights. The DOE said that if California does not comply, enforcement could include 'referral to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for proceedings.' Advertisement Added Education Secretary Linda McMahon in the Board of Education statement: 'The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law. The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.' McMahon told Fox News on Wednesday that California could lose federal funding for schools if the state does not comply with the law. The Trump administration has made similar threats to Minnesota and Maine; Minnesota sued the Justice Department over the demands, while the federal government stopped those efforts against Maine as part of a settlement in May. Other efforts by Trump to withhold federal funds from states have been blocked by judges and continue to be litigated in the courts. While the Trump administration began investigating the California Interscholastic Federation in February and the California Department of Education in April, the latest requirements come nearly a month after a California high school track meet drew national attention for the participation of AB Hernandez, who is transgender. Hernandez won two state titles, and the state organizers awarded titles to both Hernandez and the athletes who finished second. For LGBTQ+ advocates, the Trump administration's Title IX policy is part of a larger push to curtail transgender rights. 'The U.S. Department of Education's 'findings' are a dangerous distortion of Title IX and a direct attack on transgender youth in California,' said Tony Hoang, executive director of the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Equality California. 'Let's be clear: this isn't about fairness in sports and never has been — it's about a federal administration weaponizing civil rights laws to target transgender students and force California to comply with their hateful anti-transgender agenda.' Advertisement The statement from the Trump administration is a win for advocates against the participation of trans athletes in women's and girls' sports, who say that those athletes have an unfair biological advantage. Studies — of which there are few — show mixed results, depending on an athlete's age and stage of transition. 'Today's findings are a landmark victory for female athletes across California who have been forced to compete on an unequal playing field, one that undermines both their safety and hard-earned achievements,' wrote Sophia Lorey, spokesperson for the California Family Council, a Christian advocacy group that has been organizing against trans girls competing in girls' sports.
