CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls high jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Washington D.C. – The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against California’s Department of Education over its long-standing policy allowing transgender girls to participate on girls’ sports teams—marking a new escalation in a growing national clash over the rights of transgender students.
Filed Wednesday by the Department of Justice, the lawsuit argues that California’s inclusion policies violate Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools. In its filing, the department claims that California’s rules “demean” cisgender girls by giving what it calls an unfair competitive advantage to “biological males” and suggests that the state’s commitment to gender identity has led to female athletes losing out on awards, podium placements, and college opportunities.
The case focuses attention on a 2013 California law—one of the first of its kind in the country—that allows students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, including sports and bathroom access, based on their gender identity. Civil rights groups have praised the policy for affirming transgender students’ rights and helping ensure they can participate in school life as their authentic selves. But to opponents in Washington, it has become the latest flashpoint in a broader cultural and legal battle.
President Donald Trump has made opposition to transgender rights a central part of his political identity since returning to office, aiming what he characterizes as “radical gender ideology.” In February, he signed an executive order to bar transgender girls and women from participating on teams that align with their gender identity. And in the months since, his administration has threatened federal education funding and launched investigations against several states, including Maine and California, that maintain inclusive sports policies.
The suit comes just weeks after a transgender high school student won a track-and-field title in California, drawing national media attention and sparking backlash from conservative groups. The Justice Department cited the case in its lawsuit, claiming the competition amounted to a civil rights violation.
The California Department of Education declined to comment directly on the suit but has previously defended its policies as consistent with federal law and constitutional protections. The department refused a 10-day ultimatum from the federal Education Department to reverse course earlier this month.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has found himself caught in the crossfire. Though a long-standing advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Newsom made headlines earlier this year when he questioned, during a podcast appearance, the fairness of trans girls competing in all athletic contexts. Republicans have seized on the remarks, urging him to support legislation barring transgender athletes—something he has so far refused to do.
The lawsuit is the latest volley in a broader, state-by-state conflict over trans rights, particularly in education. More than two dozen states have passed laws barring transgender girls from playing on girls’ teams, many of which remain tied up in court. California now faces a legal fight that could help determine the future of gender inclusion policies nationwide.
