Washington, D.C. — The United States Department of Justice has filed suit against California today for violating Title IX.
The complaint says that the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Foundation (CIF) have violated Title IX through illegal sex discrimination. The state has allegedly deprived girls of equal education and athletic opportunities by allowing transgender athletes to participate in female sports. The suit seeks declaratory, injunctive and damages relief from the state education programs. Title IX prevents the discrimination of individuals based on sex in an education program or activity that is federally funded.
The CDE is currently allocated $44.3 billion by the U.S. Department of Education for the 2025 fiscal year. Of that, $3.8 billion is available for drawdown by the CDE, the Justice Department said. This can be used for both discretionary grants and formula grants.
The Justice Department previously ruled that the CDE and CIF were in “clear violation” of Title IX at the end of June.
“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,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a press release. “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.”
