Background on the Issue

In June 2023, California’s educational institutions declined to accept a resolution from the Trump administration that aimed to prohibit biological males from competing in women’s sports. This action comes in response to the executive order issued by then-President Donald Trump in February, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”

Details of the Resolution

The U.S. Department of Education forwarded the resolution to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and the California Department of Education on June 25. Both organizations opted not to endorse the proposed agreement.

In light of California’s noncompliance, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced via a post on X that the Justice Department would step in to address the situation.

Political Reactions

McMahon criticized California’s actions, stating, “California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women’s sports.” She further emphasized that Governor Gavin Newsom’s earlier remarks about the fairness of the issue were merely “empty political grandstanding.”

Governor Newsom’s Stance

In a podcast appearance back in March, Governor Newsom discussed the issue with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, agreeing that allowing biological males to compete in female sports was “deeply unfair,” and described it as “an issue of fairness.” His remarks indicated a recognition of the complexities surrounding the topic.

The Trump Administration’s Position

Earlier in the year, the Trump administration had accused California of violating Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination. This assertion followed an incident in May where a biological male athlete, AB Hernandez, won multiple medals at California’s female track and field championships.

Trump criticized the situation on social media, labeling Hernandez’s victory as “demeaning to women.” He warned that federal funding could be withdrawn from the state if the executive order was disregarded. “THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” he stated in a post.

Current Developments

Despite Trump’s threats, the CIF decided to allow Hernandez to compete in the finals of the state track and field championships while also enacting a rule change to permit more competitiveness among athletes in the championships.