California DEFIES Trump administration order to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports

By lauraharris // 2025-07-13

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The California Department of Education has rejected a U.S. Department of Education order requiring it to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, defying the findings of a federal civil rights investigation.
The Trump administration's Office for Civil Rights set a July 7 deadline for California to accept a resolution that would require schools to adopt "biology-based" definitions of sex and bar transgender girls from female sports and facilities.
California education officials, along with the California Interscholastic Federation, declined to sign the resolution agreement, stating they "respectfully disagree" with the federal interpretation of Title IX.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized California's decision and warned of "imminent enforcement action," which could include withholding federal education funds. She also referenced Gov. Gavin Newsom's past comments on fairness in sports.
The dispute adds to a series of clashes between California and the Trump administration over issues like immigration and diversity programs, with many challenges currently tied up in federal court.

The California Department of Education (CDE) has flatly refused to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, rejecting the findings of a federal civil rights investigation. The refusal came in response to a July 7 deadline set by the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which concluded in June that California had violated the rights of cisgender female athletes by permitting transgender girls to compete according to their gender identity. Federal officials had given the state 10 days to accept a proposed resolution agreement or face potential consequences, including the loss of federal education funding. Under the proposed resolution agreement, the Golden State would be required to inform all recipients of federal funding that run interscholastic athletic programs that they must adhere to the Trump administration's interpretation of Title IX. The mandated notice would have to state that "Title IX and its implementing regulations forbid schools from allowing males from participating in female sports and from occupying female intimate facilities and recipients of federal funding must adopt biology-based definitions of the words 'male' and 'female.'" However, Len Garfinkel, general counsel for the CDE, said in a written response that the state "respectfully disagrees with OCR's analysis and it will not sign the proposed resolution agreement." The brief statement marked a formal rejection of the federal order and underscored California's commitment to inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ students, despite rising pressure from Washington. "The California Department of Education received the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights' (OCR's) June 25, 2025, Letter of Finding and Proposed Resolution Agreement in the above-referenced OCR matter. The CDE respectfully disagrees with OCR's analysis, and it will not sign the Proposed Resolution Agreement," Garfinkel wrote. Moreover, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) echoed a similar statement. The CIF said it concurs with the response of the CDE, signaling that it is also rejecting the Education Department's proposed resolution agreement.

California is set to face "imminent enforcement action" for non-compliance

In line with this, California is facing "imminent enforcement action" from the federal government. "California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women's sports," Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote on X Monday, July 7. "Turns out Gov. Newsom's acknowledgment that 'it's an issue of fairness' was empty political grandstanding. @CAgovernor, you'll be hearing from @AGPamBondi," she added, referring to Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi. These comments referenced earlier remarks by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has acknowledged public concerns about fairness in girls' sports but has also defended policies protecting the rights of transgender students. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to California, and on multiple occasions, his administration has taken steps to follow through. It has targeted state programs that promote racial diversity and penalized local and state officials for refusing to assist immigration agents in detaining unauthorized immigrants. (Related: Trump threatens to cut federal funding to California over transgender athlete controversy.) If the Trump administration pursues enforcement actions, the state could face a loss of federal education funding or a prolonged court battle over the interpretation of Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. Head over to Wokies.news for more stories like this. Watch this clip of President Donald Trump signing his new EO that bans transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports.

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California is set to face "imminent enforcement action" for non-compliance

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