President Trump threatened Thursday to defund California schools if they don’t comply with his transgender policies as the state refuses to abide by the administration’s ban on transgender girls on girls school sports teams.
“Any California school district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said on Truth Social, without giving details on funding cuts.
The Justice Department last month took legal action against California over its refusal to comply, suing the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over what it said was a pattern of “illegal sex discrimination against female student athletes.”
Before the legal action, Trump had also issued a personal threat in May, saying he would revoke federal funding from California if they don’t block a transgender high school track and field athlete from participating in a state championship meet.
The president signed an executive order in February declaring “it is the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports” and threatened to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”
In response, the CIF said it would continue allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity, citing a 2013 state law.
The Trump administration escalated the battle in June when it said California is defying federal law in permitting transgender girls to compete on girls school sports teams. The Education Department claimed the state is “in clear violation” of Title IX following two separate investigations.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has figured out recently how to get under Trump’s skin — by acting like him on social media. The California governor has been mirroring the president’s rants and rhetoric on social media, garnering attention from the media.
Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s federal funding threat.
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