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California Refuses Federal Demand to Bar Transgender Girls From School Sports

Federal officials threaten enforcement action, funding cuts after California declined to bar transgender girls following an OCR Title IX investigation

Hernandez stands on the podium during a medal ceremony for the triple jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, California, on May 31.
Jurupa Valley’s AB Hernandez, second from left, shares the first-place podium spot with Jillene Wetteland, left, of Poly Long Beach and Lelani Laruelle of Monta Vista in a three-way tie during a medal ceremony for the high jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, California, on May 31, 2025. (CRAIG KOHLRUSS/The Fresno Bee/TNS)
AB Hernandez, second left, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, leaves the stadium after competing in the triple jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, California, on May 30.
AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School (center) and Kira Gant Hatcher of St. Mary’s High School were both awarded first place titles in the triple jump during the state track and field championships in May.

Overview

  • California’s Department of Education general counsel Len Garfinkel formally notified the Office for Civil Rights on July 7 that it “respectfully disagrees” with the proposed resolution agreement and will not sign measures requiring bans, rescinded awards or biology-based sex definitions.
  • The California Interscholastic Federation’s general counsel Diane Marshall-Freeman issued a separate letter concurring with the state agency’s refusal to comply with the federal Title IX demands.
  • Education Secretary Linda McMahon shared both refusal letters on X and warned Governor Gavin Newsom that Attorney General Pam Bondi would pursue legal enforcement for the state’s noncompliance.
  • In June, California filed a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the Justice Department to block any federal action aimed at enforcing the Trump administration’s executive order on transgender athletes.
  • The standoff sets up a court showdown over whether federal civil rights law can override California’s 2013 policy allowing students to compete according to their gender identity, with millions in federal education funding at risk.