U.S. Education Dept. Finds California Violates Title IX on Transgender Sports Policy

The U.S. Department of Education, under President Donald Trump's administration, has found California in violation of Title IX for allowing male athletes to compete in girls' and women's sports, determining that this practice discriminates against female athletes. The investigations targeted the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation due to their policies permitting participation based on gender identity rather than biological sex, which conflicts with federal anti-discrimination laws. The department has given California 10 days to comply with a proposed resolution requiring schools to adopt biology-based definitions of male and female, restore titles and records to displaced female athletes, and send personalized apologies to affected female athletes. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions, including referral to the Department of Justice and possible termination of federal education funding. This move represents a sharp reversal from the prior Biden administration's policies, aligning with Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. California officials have not commented on the ruling, while the department insists on strict enforcement to protect the rights and safety of female athletes under Title IX.