Earlier this month, the Trump administration initiated legal action against California, claiming it jeopardizes female students by ignoring Title IX and allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.
If state officials don’t change their stance, they risk losing federal education funding.
On February 5, President Trump issued an executive order regarding Title IX, which aims to prevent biological males from participating in women’s sports, reflecting the original intention of the law enacted by Congress in 1972.
On a recent episode of his podcast, California Governor Gavin Newsom described the situation as “deeply unfair” for biological males to compete against women. Yet, it seems his words didn’t lead to any concrete actions to ensure fair play. In fact, a trans athlete identifying as female recently clinched two gold medals at a high school competition in California.
This issue extends beyond K-12 education. Four universities are grappling with the same concerns, particularly regarding women’s volleyball. San Jose State University, for example, has biological males on its team, raising questions about fairness in competition.
There’s a mounting concern for safety as well. An incident last year involved Italian boxer Angela Carini, who had to stop her match due to being seriously injured by a biological male competitor.
A similar problem occurred during a women’s basketball game in Massachusetts, where injuries caused by a trans player led to a halftime break. Years ago, in North Carolina, another biological male inadvertently caused serious injury to a female player, leading to lasting effects.
The implications of allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports are significant. While Newsom and others may not take it seriously, the Trump administration is ready to act.
In June, the U.S. Department of Education concluded an investigation into California’s education system, accusing it of gender discrimination. They proposed resolutions to ensure compliance with Title IX, including restoring accolades to female athletes that were improperly awarded to men.
However, California officials have rebuffed these proposals. Secretary Tony Thurmond has previously asserted that state laws allow students to join sports teams that align with their gender identity.
This led to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against California’s education department due to their refusal to adhere to Title IX. They assert that the state is perpetuating sexism against female athletes by allowing competition with biological males.
The DOJ indicated that federal funding allocated to California education in 2025 amounted to $44.3 billion. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief for violations related to Title IX.
By pursuing legal action, the Trump administration aims to hold California accountable. Allowing biological males to persist in women’s sports not only feels unjust but has proven harmful in various instances.
If California remains unwilling to comply with Title IX, it could face total removal of federal educational funds, similar to recent actions taken in Maine.
This situation clearly threatens the health and safety of young women and should concern all elected officials. If Governor Newsom and his administration choose to ignore these issues, the DOJ and Department of Education should vigorously enforce the law to protect female athletes.
