Trump Threatens Large-Scale Fines, Federal Funding Cuts Against California Over Transgender Athlete Wins

President Donald Trump has threatened California with large-scale fines and the withholding of federal funding after AB Hernandez, a transgender girl, won multiple events at the California state high school track championships, igniting a national controversy. The Department of Justice, via Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, warned California schools that allowing males to compete in girls' sports violates the Equal Protection Clause and constitutes unconstitutional sex discrimination. In response to the controversy, the California Interscholastic Federation adjusted its rules to award duplicate medals to the next-best female finishers behind Hernandez, but the Trump administration remains unsatisfied, asserting these measures do not comply with his executive order prohibiting biological males from competing in female sports. The administration is investigating California and other states for policies allowing transgender athletes to compete consistent with their gender identity, with potential penalties including civil fines and the loss of federal education funds. California officials and the Department of Education have defended their policies, stating that the Fourteenth Amendment does not require athletic teams to be separated by biological sex. This conflict highlights a broader national debate on transgender participation in sports and the limits of federal authority over state education policies.