California has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice after the Trump administration ordered state schools to bar transgender girls from competing in female sports.
Attorney General Rob Bonta launched the legal action following a letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, which demanded California’s public schools and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) ban trans athletes — a move the state says is unconstitutional and unsupported by law.
The Department’s demand followed right-wing backlash over 16-year-old trans student AB Hernandez, who recently competed in a girls’ high jump competition in Southern California. The teen tied for fourth place but became a national lightning rod after former president Donald Trump publicly criticised her participation, calling it “not fair and totally demeaning to women and girls”.
Trump threatened to withdraw federal funding from California schools that failed to comply, echoing his administration’s wider crackdown on trans inclusion in education and sports.
📜 DOJ Letter Sparks Legal Firestorm
The DOJ letter, signed by Dhillon, argued that allowing trans girls to compete in girls’ sports “deprives” cisgender female students of opportunities protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“Scientific evidence shows that upsetting the historical status quo and forcing girls to compete against males would deprive them of athletic opportunities and benefits because of their sex,” she wrote. The letter ordered state schools and the CIF to “certify in writing” by 9 June that they would comply with the demands.
In response, California filed its lawsuit, stating the federal government “cite no authority which would allow them to issue or enforce the Certification Demand Letter”. The suit further claims that the Trump administration’s demands would force California public schools to break both federal constitutional rights and the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
“The President and his Administration are demanding that California school districts break the law and violate the Constitution — or face legal retaliation,” Bonta said. “They’re demanding that our schools discriminate against students and deny their constitutionally protected rights.”
🏳️⚧️ Defending Trans Inclusion in Schools
The state argues that its trans-inclusive policies do not discriminate based on biological sex. Instead, they allow students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity — a policy that supports student wellbeing, inclusion, and prevents harm to transgender pupils.
The lawsuit insists that barring trans students from sports under the guise of fairness is itself a violation of both the U.S. Constitution and California law. It asks the court to issue an injunction against the DOJ’s demands.
Previously, California rejected two Republican-led bills (AB-844 and AB-89) that aimed to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. In a more recent controversy, CIF introduced a “pilot entry process” allowing cisgender athletes who would have otherwise qualified, if not for Hernandez’s placement, to enter the finals. While the CIF framed the decision as a compromise, LGBTQ+ advocates criticised it for appeasing right-wing pressure.
🎙️ Gavin Newsom’s Trans Sport Comments Resurface
Governor Gavin Newsom, typically a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, faced backlash earlier this year after he called trans inclusion in girls’ sports “deeply unfair” during an appearance on a conservative podcast. The comments appeared to contradict his previously pro-equality stance and have drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ organisations.
Despite that controversy, Newsom’s office defended the CIF’s revised rule as a “reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness”.
🏛️ Trump’s Broader Anti-Trans Agenda
The conflict is part of a broader Republican effort to roll back transgender rights. In February, Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’, which threatens to strip federal funding from schools that do not segregate sports by “biological sex”.
The order framed trans inclusion as a threat to “safety, fairness, dignity and truth” and argued that Title IX — a civil rights law protecting against sex discrimination — prohibits trans girls from participating in girls’ sports.
California’s lawsuit signals a fierce legal fight ahead as the state reaffirms its commitment to trans rights in the face of increasing federal pressure.
