Overview

• President Trump threatened to withhold large-scale federal funding from California unless it bars a transgender athlete, citing his February Title IX executive order.
• The California Interscholastic Federation introduced a pilot entry process to invite cisgender girls who narrowly missed qualification into the May 30–31 state track and field championships.
• AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old trans junior from Jurupa Valley High School, qualified in girls’ long jump, triple jump and high jump and remains eligible under the temporary rules.
• California statutes and CIF bylaws allow students to compete according to gender identity, creating potential conflict over federal funding enforcement and state nondiscrimination laws.
• Governor Gavin Newsom, who has called transgender participation 'deeply unfair,' praised the pilot as a balanced solution that preserves California’s inclusive sports policies.