Federal authorities launch probe into California's policy permitting transgender competitors in female athletic events
The U.S. Justice Department has initiated an investigation into California's interscholastic sports federation, the Jurupa Unified School District, and the state itself, alleging potential violations of cisgender girls' civil rights by allowing transgender students to compete in school sports. Officials announced their decision on Wednesday, with support from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.
US Attorney Bill Essayli, who oversees the Los Angeles region, and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, expressed their backing for a lawsuit concerning similar rights violations in the Riverside Unified School District. The legal action centers on the participation of transgender athletes in school sports, which has been a contentious topic in both Riverside and the neighboring Jurupa Valley.
Lewis Mills High School in Burlington has become a focal point in the national debate over transgender youth in sports. Two transgender girls at the school have faced a harsh few months, with their experiences being captured in a recent article. Essayli and Dhillon, both appointees of President Trump, have been vocal opponents of transgender rights in California throughout their careers.
The investigation comes just a day after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California for supporting transgender youth participation in sports. This move is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to curtail transgender rights, both nationally and within California—which has the largest queer population and some of the most robust LGBTQ+ legal protections.
The Justice Department has reportedly sent legal notices to California's Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, the California Interscholastic Federation, and the Jurupa Unified School District. The Department of Education had previously announced its own investigation into the CIF in February, and the two federal departments are now coordinating their efforts.
Bonta has defended California's protective laws and advised school systems and institutions to adhere to state LGBTQ+ laws, despite facing opposition from Trump and his administration. In a statement, Bonta's office reiterated its commitment to upholding California laws. Officials from the California Department of Education and local school districts declined to comment, citing ongoing legal matters.
Recent successes of a 16-year-old transgender track athlete, AB Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley High School have been hotly debated in the media. Despite Trump suggesting that Hernandez had won "everything" at a recent meet, the athlete did not, in fact, sweep every event. Hernandez's mother has expressed her heartbreak over her child being targeted online and being forced to compete under such scrutiny.
A second transgender athlete and her family chose not to comment due to pending litigation supporting the same lawsuit that the Justice Department has joined.
The Justice Department's "pattern or practice" investigation aims to determine whether California's laws and CIF policies violate Title IX, a federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities. Title IX has previously been used to protect transgender individuals, but the Trump administration has taken a different stance, advocating for the reversal of transgender rights.
Several stakeholders, including LGBTQ+ advocates, California institutions, and Democratic lawmakers, have criticized Trump and other Republicans for using transgender individuals in sports as a political target. This investigation marks the second federal inquiry initiated by Dhillon's office in the Los Angeles region within the past month, with the other investigation focusing on Los Angeles County's gun permit process.
[1] U.S. Justice Department Launches Investigation into California Schools Over Transgender Students' Participation in Sports: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-justice-department-launches-investigation-california-schools-over-transgender-rcna70701)
[2] U.S. Department of Education Opens Title IX Investigation into California Schools Over Transgender Students' Participation in Sports: Education Week (https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/us-department-of-education-opens-title-ix-investigation-into-california-schools-over-transgender-students-participation-in-sports/2025/02)
[3] Title IX Investigation Opens Up Old Wounds Over Transgender Sports Participation in California: The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/california-transgender-athletes-title-ix-department-of-education.html)
[4] DOJ to Investigate California Schools over Transgender Students' Participation in Sports: Courthouse News Service (https://www.courthousenews.com/doj-to-investigate-california-schools-over-transgender-students-participation-in-sports/)
[5] Justice Department Investigates California Schools Over Participation of Transgender Students in Girls' Sports: The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/25/us-justice-department-investigates-california-schools-transgender-athletes)
- The U.S. Justice Department is investigating California schools, including the Jurupa Unified School District, over allegations of violating cisgender girls' civil rights by allowing transgender students to compete in school sports.
- The investigation centers on Title IX, a federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities, to determine whether California's laws and CIF policies are in violation.
- The Los Angeles region's U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon have expressed their backing for a lawsuit concerning similar rights violations in the Riverside Unified School District.
- The legal action and investigation follow the Trump administration's broader efforts to curtail transgender rights, both nationally and within California, with the latter having the largest queer population and robust LGBTQ+ legal protections.
- In addition to the Justice Department's investigation, the Department of Education had previously announced its own investigation into the California Interscholastic Federation in February.
- Policymakers, including Democratic lawmakers, have criticized Trump and other Republicans for using transgender individuals in sports as a political target.
- Recent media attention has focused on the experiences of two transgender girls at Lewis Mills High School in Burlington and a 16-year-old transgender track athlete, AB Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley High School.
