Trump Threatens Permanent Funding Cut Over CA Policy

President Donald Trump has threatened to permanently withhold large-scale federal funding from California if the state continues to allow transgender athletes, specifically high school athlete AB Hernandez, to compete in women's sports. Trump cited his February executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from participating in female sports and warned that noncompliance could have severe financial consequences for the state. He also stated he may direct local authorities to prevent Hernandez from competing in upcoming state finals. The confrontation comes after Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously supported LGBTQ+ rights, recently called it 'deeply unfair' for people born male to compete in women's sports, a statement Trump referenced to bolster his stance. Newsom has not yet responded to the latest threat. With more than a third of California's budget reliant on federal funding, the dispute highlights escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over gender identity policies in sports.