By permitting transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports, the Trump administration accused California’s Education Department and the organization that manages the state’s high school athletics of breaking federal statutes against sex-based discrimination. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday.
The Justice Department claimed in the lawsuit that California’s long-standing practice of permitting transgender girls to compete alongside and against female athletes for ten years is not only unlawful and unfair, but also degrading, sending a message to girls that their accomplishments and opportunities are less important than making room for boys.
The lawsuit went on to say that it violates the 1972 federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination, undermining the integrity of girls’ sports, their competitive experience, and the very goal of Title IX, which is to provide equal access to educational benefits, including interscholastic athletics.
The California Interscholastic Federation, which regulates high school athletics, and the California Education Department said they were unable to praise ongoing legal action.
The complaint is the most recent development in a months-long spat between California and the Trump administration on the state’s policy for transgender athletes. President Trump threatened to cut off California’s federal money in May if the state did not exclude transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports. The U.S. Education Department found late last month that California’s practices around transgender athletes were illegal under federal law. The state was given ten days to change its ways or face penalties.
Some Democrats reacted negatively to the actions. However, earlier this year, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said that he, too, had concerns about the state’s practices. In an episode of his podcast, he called the involvement of transgender athletes in women’s sports “deeply unfair.”
As the Justice Department launched the case on Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recalled Mr. Newsom’s remarks regarding trans athletes, saying in a statement that it is not only incredibly unfair, but also unlawful under federal law.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon claimed in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday morning that the Justice Department’s lawsuit was carrying out a campaign pledge made by President Trump to prevent men from participating in women’s sports.
According to Ms. McMahon, women have fought hard for these rights, they are legally protected, and the president takes them seriously.
Reporting assistance was provided by Devlin Barrett.