CA violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes in girls’ sports, Education Department says

The California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) are in violation of Title IX for allowing biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday.

The decision followed federal investigations into California’s policies permitting transgender athletes to participate in girls’ competitions and access female-only spaces such as locker rooms and restrooms.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February prohibiting male participation in female sports at the K–12 and collegiate levels at federally funded institutions.

“Although Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted months ago it was ‘deeply unfair’ to allow men to compete in women’s sports, both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation continued as recently as a few weeks ago to allow men to steal female athletes’ well-deserved accolades and to subject them to the indignity of unfair and unsafe competitions,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 

“The Trump administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law. The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.” 

According to the department, the state has 10 days to voluntarily comply with federal law or face enforcement action, including possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The department’s proposed resolution agreement requires California to: 

• Notify all local education agencies of the need to comply with Title IX as defined by biological sex. 
• Void any policies that interpret sex as “gender identity” in conflict with federal law. 
• Restore to female athletes all records, awards, and titles lost to male competitors, accompanied by a written apology from the state. 

If accepted, the agreement would also mandate an annual certification of compliance and a monitoring plan submitted to the federal government. 

The Department of Education also announced it is designating June as “Title IX Month,” commemorating the 1972 civil rights law that protects against sex-based discrimination in education. The designation contrasts with Pride Month, also observed in June, which promotes the transgender lifestyle. 

Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines praised the findings.

One day earlier, she told Fox News’ Dana Perino she hoped the administration would “make an example” of states like California and Maine for noncompliance.

“Enough with the warnings and saying we’re going to pull federal funds,” Gaines said. “I believe to see real and lasting change we actually need to see these federal funds be pulled.”