() The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the state of California for refusing to comply with an executive order from the Trump administration to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports.
The DOJ’s complaint names the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees the state’s high school sports. It alleges that the two state agencies engaged in “a pattern” of illegal sex discrimination against female athletes.
Both the CDE and CIF declined to enforce President Donald Trump’s order to ban transgender student athletes from competing in line with their gender identity despite warnings from the White House and threats of losing federal funding.
“We’ve made it very clear: only women in women’s sports under Title IX,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a video on social media. Bondi added the rules include returning any medals won by trans athletes to women and barring trans athletes from the women’s locker rooms.
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Bondi also warned other states that allowing trans girls to compete in female sports could also result in challenges by the federal government. The DOJ took legal action against Maine in April over its refusal to ban trans athletes.
“If you do not comply, you’re next,” Bondi said. “We will protect girls in girls sports.”
