Justice Department Sues California Over Title IX Female Athlete Rights

The Justice Department under the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for violating Title IX by allowing male students to compete on female high school sports teams, which the DOJ argues constitutes illegal sex discrimination and endangers female athletes. The complaint highlights that California's policies deprive female athletes of equal opportunities and safety, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledging the unfairness of men competing against women in sports. The DOJ seeks declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief to enforce compliance, noting that the state has refused prior federal demands to adhere to Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The lawsuit also emphasizes the potential for the Department of Education to withhold approximately $44.3 billion in federal education funds from California due to these violations. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon have underscored the administration's commitment to protecting women's sports and rejecting policies based on gender identity that undermine female athletes' rights. California officials have formally rejected the federal civil rights determination, intensifying the conflict between state policies and federal law enforcement efforts.