Federal Lawsuit Accuses California of Illegally Endangering Female Students
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), alleging they violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports, thereby depriving female student-athletes of their legal right to fair and equal athletic opportunities.
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In the complaint filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the federal government contends that California’s education authorities have “engaged in illegal sex discrimination” by sanctioning policies that permit male athletes to participate on female high school teams. These policies, the suit claims, have “unfairly disadvantaged girls and endangered their safety” in violation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funding.
According to the Justice Department, the U.S. Department of Education allocated approximately $44.3 billion in funds to the California Department of Education for fiscal year 2025, with $3.8 billion still available for drawdown. That funding is now in jeopardy as the lawsuit seeks declaratory relief, injunctive measures, and potential damages.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi was direct in her criticism: “The Governor of California has previously admitted that it is ‘deeply unfair’ to force women and girls to compete with men and boys in competitive sports. But not only is it ‘deeply unfair,’ it is also illegal under federal law. This Department of Justice will continue its fight to protect equal opportunities for women and girls in sports.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon echoed that sentiment: “Title IX was enacted over half a century ago to protect women and girls from discrimination. The Justice Department will not stand for policies that deprive girls of their hard-earned athletic trophies and ignore their safety on the field and in private spaces. Young women should not have to sacrifice their rights to compete for scholarships, opportunities, and awards on the altar of woke gender ideology.”
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, representing California’s Central District, issued a stern rebuke of the state’s policies, “California is on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of history. Women deserve dignity, respect, and an equal opportunity to compete on their own sports teams. The time for talk is over. California must comply with Title IX and end its civil rights violations against women. No person, no state, is above the law.”
The complaint underscores CIF’s influential role, noting that the organization oversees over 750,000 student-athletes in grades 9 through 12 across 1.8 million students.
