U.S. Department of Justice probes CA rules on trans athletes ahead of Clovis meet
The U.S. Department of Justice says it will investigate whether California’s rules allowing transgender female athletes to compete in school sports violate the rights of cisgender girls.
The investigation, announced Wednesday, comes on the eve of this weekend’s state track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis and after President Donald Trump criticized a trans female athlete’s participation in the meet. Trump on Tuesday threatened to withhold federal funds from California for allowing transgender students to compete in sports.
The Justice Department also says it will support a pending lawsuit alleging the state “is harming hundreds – if not thousands – of female students by removing opportunities for female athletes to be champions in their own sports.”
The U.S. Department of Justice said it sent letters of legal notice to state Attorney General Rob Bonta, state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County, and the California Interscholastic Federation.
The CIF changed its rules to allow cisgender female athletes who failed to qualify for the state track and field championships in Clovis to still participate under a “pilot access program.” A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said the policy is a “respectful way to navigate this complex issue without compromising competitive fairness.”
“We remain committed to defending and upholding California laws and all additional laws which ensure the rights of students — including transgender students — to be free from discrimination and harassment,” The California Department of Justice said in a statement. “We will continue to closely monitor the Trump Administration’s actions in this space.”
The California Department of Education said it was unable to comment, as the investigation is pending.