President Trump’s funding threat forced California’s hand. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) scrambled to revise its 2025 State Track and Field Championships rules after a transgender-identifying male’s victories sparked outrage.
Breitbart reported that the CIF announced a new pilot entry process, allowing biological female athletes displaced by a male competitor to vie for the state title.
This shift followed intense pressure from Trump’s February 2025 executive order, “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports.” California’s progressive playbook got a reality check and California Governor Gavin Newsom has been humiliated by Trump yet again.
In February 2025, Trump signed the executive order, mandating that schools receiving federal funds uphold equal opportunities for women under Title IX.
The Department of Education promptly launched a Title IX investigation into the CIF. California’s defiance of federal policy was starting to crumble.
Over the May 24-25 weekend, a male athlete competing as a female for Jurupa Valley High School dominated, clinching first in the triple jump and long jump. This victory sidelined at least two female athletes who would have qualified. The unfairness was glaring, even to Governor Newsom.
Newsom, in a March 2025 chat with Charlie Kirk, admitted that males in girls’ sports is “deeply unfair.” Yet, California initially doubled down, prioritizing gender identity policies over Trump’s order. Hypocrisy in Sacramento? Shocking.
The Jurupa Unified School District defended its stance, citing state law allowing students to compete based on gender identity. “Consistent with their gender identity,” they said, as if biology were a suggestion. Actions have consequences, and Trump’s threat loomed large.
On May 27, 2025, Trump took to Truth Social, blasting California’s policy as “ILLEGALLY” allowing “MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.” He called the male athlete’s dominance “practically unbeatable” and “TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.” The gauntlet was thrown.
Trump warned that “large scale Federal Funding” could be withheld, maybe permanently, if California didn’t comply. He even ordered local authorities to bar the athlete from the state finals. Bold move, but it got results.
Hours after Trump’s post, the CIF caved, announcing the policy change to Fox News Digital. The new rules were set after the Masters Qualifiers round ended on May 24. Speedy backpedaling, courtesy of federal pressure.
The CIF’s pilot process allows female athletes who earned the next qualifying mark in their section, but missed the state’s at-large mark, to compete in 2025. At least two girls will now get their shot at the title. A small victory for fairness.
The CIF claimed it values “all student-athletes” and aims to comply with California law while fostering competition.
“Providing students with the opportunity to belong,” they said, but fairness for girls was an afterthought until Trump intervened. Nice try, CIF.
Governor Newsom’s office praised the pilot as “reasonable” and “respectful,” a “model worth pursuing.” Funny how “deeply unfair” became “thoughtful” when funding was on the line. Principles shift when wallets are at stake.
The policy change doesn’t outright ban transgender athletes, keeping California’s gender identity laws intact. It’s a compromise, letting girls compete without fully dismantling progressive policies. A tightrope walk, but better than ignoring biology.