Trump Threatens Fines Over California Trans Athlete Policy

President Donald Trump has threatened large-scale fines and possible withholding of federal funding from California after transgender athlete AB Hernandez's victories at the state high school girls' championships. The Justice Department, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, warned California schools that allowing transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and amounts to sex-based discrimination. California must comply with federal demands by June 9 or face legal action, as the DOJ argues the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) bylaws are unconstitutional. In response, CIF temporarily awarded first-place medals to both Hernandez and the top-performing non-transgender female athletes in the affected events. Governor Gavin Newsom's office emphasized CIF's independence and reaffirmed California's legal support for transgender inclusion in school sports. The dispute highlights escalating national debates over transgender participation in youth athletics, with California and other states defending gender identity policies amid federal threats.