California is the latest state to come under fire from the Department of Justice due to its transgender athlete policy. The DOJ announced that California public schools will face legal action if the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not amend its transgender athlete policy by June 9, 2025.
The DOJ will begin an investigation into California’s Title IX violations, specifically the state’s laws allowing students to “participate in sex-segregated school programs like sports teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, regardless of their gender listed on their records.”
California is the latest state to come under fire from the Department of Justice due to its transgender athlete policy. The DOJ announced that California public schools will face legal action if the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not amend its transgender athlete policy by June 9, 2025.
The DOJ will begin an investigation into California’s Title IX violations, specifically the state’s laws allowing students to “participate in sex-segregated school programs like sports teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, regardless of their gender listed on their records.”Â
The attention from the DOJ comes just weeks after a high school track meet erupted in protest due to a transgender female student-athlete competing with other young women from Jurupa Unified School District. And days after that same student-athlete won two titles at the CIF state track and field championships.
According to ABC30, President Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California as a result of the transgender student-athletes competing in the track and field championships. This threat prompted some rule changes for the meet, but the transgender athlete did still compete, and they won two titles.
Related: CIF Changes HS Track and Field State Championship Rules Over Trans AthleteÂ
"We remain committed to defending and upholding California laws and all additional laws which ensure the rights of students, including transgender students, to be free from discrimination and harassment," the state attorney general's press office said in an emailed statement to the Desert Sun. "We will continue to closely monitor the Trump Administration’s actions in this space."
Earlier this spring, Maine also came under fire from the DOJ for allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in the category that aligned with their gender identity. While Maine has successfully reinstated some federal funding, that legal process is still ongoing.
On top of the DOJ investigation into CIF, the Department of Education appears to be throwing shade at Pride Month. In response to the investigations into transgender student-athletes across the country, the DOE announced on Monday that it will recognize June as “Title IX Month.” The announcement also included “Title IX Month Initiatives,” such as investigations into universities and school districts’ gender-neutral locker room policies and transgender athlete policies.
The DOE said, “June will now be dedicated to commemorating women and celebrating their struggle for, and achievement of, equal educational opportunity. Throughout the month, the Department will highlight actions taken to reverse the Biden Administration’s legacy of undermining Title IX and announce additional actions to protect women in line with the true purpose of Title IX.”
