Earlier this month, the Trump administration initiated a lawsuit against California, claiming that the state is jeopardizing the welfare of schoolgirls by not adhering to Title IX and permitting biological boys to compete in girls’ sports.
If California officials don’t change their stance, they could face a loss of federal education funding.
On February 5, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that interprets Title IX as prohibiting biological men from participating in women’s sports, reflecting the original intent of the law enacted by Congress in 1972.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Governor Newsom described the participation of biological men in women’s sports as “deeply unfair.” However, his actions seem inconsistent with his words, as there has been no effort to ensure that only women compete in designated women’s sports. Notably, a transgender athlete who identifies as a woman recently won two gold medals in the California High Jump and Triple Jump competitions.
This issue extends beyond California’s K-12 schools. In the latter half of 2024, four universities, including San Jose State University, will be barred from women’s volleyball competitions due to the presence of biological men on the team. Amid the ongoing debate, the director of athletics at the University of California, Davis, reached out to inquire about including transgender athletes on one of their teams.
This situation poses a serious threat. For instance, Italian boxer Angela Carini had to halt her match at last year’s Parisiro Games after sustaining significant injuries from her biological male opponent.
In another incident during a women’s basketball game among Massachusetts high school teams, one team had to pause due to multiple injuries caused by transgender players. A few years back, in North Carolina, a biological man caused severe injuries to female athlete Peyton McNabb during a volleyball match, resulting in brain damage and partial paralysis.
The implications of biological men competing in women’s sports are quite severe. While Newsom and state officials might underestimate the gravity of the issue, the Trump administration certainly does not.
In June, the U.S. Department of Education concluded an investigation into the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for what it termed “discrimination against women and girls based on gender.” The Department proposed resolution agreements aimed at addressing Title IX violations, including ensuring compliance with Title IX, revoking any conflicting guidance, restoring records and awards for female athletes, and offering apologies to those affected.
However, CDE and CIF rejected the resolution agreement, with California Secretary Tony Thurmond previously indicating that they would not adhere to the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title IX, citing state law that mandates participation in teams that align with a student’s gender identity.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) subsequently filed a lawsuit against CDE and CIF on July 9, asserting that both entities are “engaged in illegal sexism” against female student athletes by allowing men to compete against them.
The DOJ also highlighted that the Department of Education allocated $44.3 billion in federal funding to CDE for 2025. Through this lawsuit, the DOJ seeks various forms of relief, including damages for Title IX violations.
The Trump administration is pursuing actions to hold California officials accountable. The ongoing participation of biological men in women’s sports is seen as unjust and has already led to significant harm in the past.
If California doesn’t comply with Title IX, the administration may need to consider cutting off federal education funding to the state, similar to actions taken in Maine.
It is concerning that the welfare of young women could be compromised in this way, and such a situation should not be overlooked by elected officials. If Governor Newsom and his administration persist in their current path, it would be prudent for the DOJ and the Department of Education to utilize all available measures to compel compliance.
