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The Trump administration’s Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it will sue California for alleged violations of Title IX, following the state’s refusal to ban biological males from competing in girls’ sports.
The lawsuit, filed after a resolution agreement was rejected by California officials, is based on findings by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which concluded the state’s policies violate federal protections against sex-based discrimination.
“Title IX was enacted over half a century ago to protect women and girls from discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Justice Department will not stand for policies that deprive girls of their hard-earned athletic trophies and ignore their safety on the field and in private spaces.”
Dhillon criticized California’s stance, adding, “Young women should not have to sacrifice their rights to compete for scholarships, opportunities, and awards on the altar of woke gender ideology.”
The Department of Education’s OCR initially issued a proposed resolution agreement to the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) on June 25, following its investigation. Officials found California in “clear violation” of Title IX and gave the state 10 days to comply or face enforcement action.
California officials declined to sign the resolution, prompting the DOJ’s legal action.
“This is something President Trump campaigned on; his ‘Promises made, promises kept,’” Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Fox News. “It is the law. The president means business with it.”
The DOJ’s complaint reportedly includes remarks made by California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this year, when he said that biological males competing in female sports was “deeply unfair.” Newsom made the comments during a podcast interview in March, in what critics saw as an attempt to soften his progressive record.
In a response to criticism about a high school boy winning a girls’ regional track event, Newsom said, “I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair.”
The DOJ cited such statements as evidence that California officials are aware of the concerns surrounding fairness in female athletics, but continue to allow policies that federal officials say violate the rights of female students.
