The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that it is intensifying its investigation into California high school sports following a transgender girl’s qualification for three events at the upcoming state track and field championships.
The department indicated that a state law permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports may be in violation of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions.
This action by the Justice Department represents the latest instance of the Trump administration leveraging federal authority to influence Democratic-led states on issues typically managed at the local level.
The announcement followed President Trump's threat to withdraw “large scale” federal funding from California unless the state prohibited transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. He specifically urged local authorities to prevent the transgender girl from competing in the track and field meet starting Friday in Clovis, California.
The Justice Department revealed that it has issued legal notices to the state attorney general, the state superintendent of public instruction, and the California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.), which has governed high school sports in the state for decades. The department is joining a U.S. Department of Education investigation into C.I.F. and has instructed the U.S. attorney’s office in Southern California to examine the state’s policies.
In the legal notices, Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, expressed concern over the decision to allow the athlete to compete for state titles in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump.
“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” Ms. Dhillon stated. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”
A coalition of organizations advocating for transgender rights—Equality California, TransFamily Support Services, and Our Schools USA—criticized the Trump administration on Tuesday regarding the funding threat. They asserted that C.I.F. has maintained inclusive, evidence-based policies for over a decade, and described the administration's actions as a political maneuver that unfairly targets a child.
On Tuesday, C.I.F. announced it would allow additional female athletes to participate in the state meet under a pilot program. The organization also stated on Wednesday that it would permit an extra athlete to advance from the preliminary round to the finals in the girls’ high jump, triple jump, or long jump if necessary.
The federation further noted that medals would be awarded to the top nine “biological female” competitors, with the transgender girl receiving a duplicate medal if she finishes among the top competitors. It remains unclear whether the transgender athlete will earn team points or be permitted on the podium.
The changes appear aimed at ensuring that girls do not lose their spots in the state track meet due to the participation of a transgender competitor.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed support for this approach through his spokesman on Tuesday. In March, Mr. Newsom had stated on his podcast that it was “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to compete in female sports, a comment referenced by both President Trump and Ms. Dhillon.
During a discussion with conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, Mr. Newsom had been asked to speak out against the competing athlete but chose to focus on the broader challenges faced by transgender students.
Last month, Mr. Newsom mentioned he had considered ways to balance competitive opportunities for transgender girls with concerns regarding their impact on other competitors, but admitted he struggled to find a fair solution.
The Justice Department also announced its support for a lawsuit brought by California girls who argue that state law creates an unfair competitive environment. The plaintiffs, both high school athletes from Riverside, claim they lost opportunities on their girls’ cross-country team due to a transgender girl’s participation.
Bill Essayli, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, stated, “The law is clear: Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal and immoral. My office and the rest of the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect girls’ sports and stop anyone—public officials included—from violating women’s civil rights.”