Trump Threatens Fines, Federal Funding Over California Transgender Athlete Dispute

President Trump has renewed his threat to impose large fines and withhold federal education funds from California in response to a transgender athlete, AB Hernandez, competing in and winning events at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state track and field meet. Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, warning of consequences for allowing biological males to participate in girls' sports, citing his executive order 'Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports' aimed at preventing transgender girls from competing in female sports teams. The Trump administration's Department of Justice has launched an investigation into California's Assembly Bill 1266 and CIF policies, alleging violations of Title IX by permitting transgender male athletes to compete against girls. The DOJ has given California school districts a deadline to respond to demands to disregard CIF bylaw 300.D, which allows transgender boys to compete in girls' sports, threatening further enforcement actions. This conflict highlights the broader national controversy over transgender athletes in women's sports, with Trump's administration taking a firm stance against policies considered by them as discriminatory toward cisgender female athletes. Meanwhile, Hernandez's mother has expressed pride in her daughter's achievements, underscoring the ongoing societal and political tensions surrounding transgender participation in athletics.