President Donald Trump has taken a definitive stance against California's policy on transgender athletes in women's sports, announcing on Tuesday that the state will be subject to significant fines. This action comes after AB Hernandez, a transgender student from Jurupa Valley High School, triumphed in two events at the girls' state track and field finals on May 31 in Clovis, California.
Trump expressed his disapproval on Truth Social, stating, “A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so.” He warned of repercussions, adding, “As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!”
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), under pressure from the Trump administration, has altered its regulations. It now allows biological female athletes who were displaced by transgender competitors to still participate in the finals. Moreover, CIF has taken the unprecedented step of awarding duplicate first-place medals to the top biological female finishers. Consequently, Hernandez shared the victory podium with another athlete in each event she won.
In the contested events, Hernandez cleared 5 feet, 7 inches in the high jump and leaped 42 feet, 2 inches in the triple jump. These performances were notable as Jillene Wetteland and Lelanie Laruelle, biological females, also cleared 5 feet, 7 inches in the high jump, and Kira Grant Hatcher, another biological female, followed Hernandez's triple jump with a leap of 40 feet, 5 inches, as reported by the New York Post.
The Trump administration's commitment to the protection of women's sports was solidified with an executive order issued in February. It warned that non-compliance could result in a permanent cut in federal funding. Trump also suggested that he might direct local authorities to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls' events, although he did not specifically mention Hernandez at the time.
Governor Gavin Newsom has not yet responded to Trump's recent statements or the CIF's rule change. The Trump administration has engaged in similar actions in other states, such as Maine, where it threatened to withhold $250 million in annual federal education funding due to the state's policies on transgender athletes. Negotiations and legal reviews continue, with the White House having temporarily reinstated Maine's funding last month.
Additionally, the Justice Department announced a review in May to determine whether California's School Success and Opportunity Act, which allows transgender students to participate in girls' sports, is in violation of Title IX regulations. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, hinted at potential legal action against California over the law permitting transgender student-athlete participation.
The administration's actions reflect a broader national debate over the rights of transgender individuals in sports and the balance between inclusivity and fairness in women's athletics.
