Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to California Trans Athlete Policy Over $44 Billion Funding Notice
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 3
Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to California Trans Athlete Policy Over $44 Billion Funding Notice
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 3
Summary
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit against California, leaving the state’s policy allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports in place for now.
$44 billion in education funding was central to the ruling: Valenzuela said the federal government had not given California explicit prior notice before threatening to withhold the money, and did not decide the fairness debate itself.
The DOJ said Tuesday it is reviewing an appeal, maintaining that Title IX should protect female athletes and that the case remains part of President Donald Trump’s push to bar boys from girls’ sports.
California has allowed transgender students to compete on teams matching their gender identity since 2013, and the issue intensified after AB Hernandez won 4 state track titles across the 2025 and 2026 championships.
The dismissal follows a recent Supreme Court ruling upholding states’ authority to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports, while not requiring states such as California to adopt those restrictions.