The governing body for high school sports in California said it would allow more girls to compete in this weekend’s track-and-field state championships as President Trump threatens the state’s funding over a transgender student-athlete’s upcoming participation.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced Tuesday it is changing its competition rules to extend entry to “any biological female student-athlete” who would have “earned the next qualifying mark” in their event for the state championships in Clovis on May 30–31.
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,” the group said in a statement. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”
The organization did not return a request for clarification about whether the policy change applies to all events or only to ones where a transgender girl qualified.
A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the organization’s proposed pilot “is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing.”
“The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,” said the spokesperson, Izzy Gardon.
In the debut episode of his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” in March, Newsom broke from most other Democrats by saying he believes transgender athletes participating in girls’ and women’s sports is “deeply unfair.” Later, at a press conference in Modesto, Calif., Newsom said he would be “open” to a conversation about limiting trans athletes’ participation in the state if such a discussion were conducted “in a way that’s respectful and responsible and could find a kind of balance.”
Student-athletes in California are able to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity under a 2013 law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown (D).
The CIF announced its new entry process hours after Trump threatened to withhold funding from California and ordered local officials to bar 16-year-old AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, from competing at the state championships this weekend, though the organization said it decided to implement its new entry process several days earlier.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote early Tuesday in a post on Truth Social, referring to Hernandez’s qualifying for the state championship meet. Trump did not mention Hernandez by name.
“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” Trump wrote, referencing an order he signed in February stating it is “the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports.”
At a signing ceremony in Washington, Trump said his administration will not allow transgender athletes to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Responding to Trump’s order, the CIF said it would continue allowing transgender girls to compete on girls school sports teams. The Department of Education announced it had opened a Title IX investigation into the organization shortly after.
