A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice that challenged California's policy allowing transgender girls to compete in women's sports. The ruling allows the state's current regulations to remain in effect, which permit biological males to participate in girls' high school sports.
Following the decision, Governor Gavin Newsom's office issued a statement asserting that the ruling demonstrates "President Trump cannot rewrite Title IX by fiat" and "cannot weaponize the law against the American people." The office added, "California will keep fighting his attempts to do so."
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela's decision on Monday did not address the merits of whether California's policy violates Title IX or the broader question of biological males competing in girls' sports. Instead, the judge found that federal officials failed to provide California with adequate notice that maintaining the policy could result in the state forfeiting approximately $44 billion in federal education funding. The Department of Justice has indicated it is considering an appeal.
The federal suit, brought under the Trump administration, aimed to leverage Title IX—a 1972 law designed to protect female athletes—to safeguard girls' sports. However, under Governor Newsom and state athletic officials, California has maintained a 2013 policy that permits transgender girls to compete on female sports teams.
The controversy intensified in track and field, where Jurupa Valley High School athlete AB Hernandez won multiple state titles across different seasons. Hernandez's victories in the high jump and triple jump, along with a third-place finish in the long jump, led to state officials issuing duplicate medals to the female athletes who placed behind.
When Hernandez later joined the girls' varsity volleyball team, concerns extended beyond competitive fairness to player safety. At least eight teams forfeited matches against Jurupa Valley High School, citing these concerns. Advocates for female athletes argue that even a single transgender competitor can displace cisgender girls, impact state championships, and affect opportunities for college recruitment and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
With the federal case currently stalled, California remains a key area of contention in the national debate surrounding Title IX and the participation of transgender athletes in sports.