(LifeSiteNews) — California may soon find itself facing down a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit after refusing to keep gender-confused men from dominating girls’ sports.
The Department of Education gave the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) until Monday to comply with federal law and prohibit males from competing against females in sports. However, both the CIF and the state Dept. of Education refused to comply with the law.
“California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women’s sports,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote on X. “Turns out Gov. Newsom’s acknowledgment that ‘it’s an issue of fairness’ was empty political grandstanding.”
She then tagged Newsom and wrote, “you’ll be hearing from [Attorney General] Pam Bondi.”
California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women’s sports.
Turns out Gov. Newsom’s acknowledgment that “it’s an issue of fairness” was empty political grandstanding.@CAgovernor, you’ll be hearing from @AGPamBondi. pic.twitter.com/wa945HtmG6
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) July 7, 2025
McMahon previously warned the state about potential consequences for noncompliance.
“The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law,” McMahon stated in a June 25 news release, announcing the offer for resolution after finding California was in violation of the law. “The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.”
The resolution would have also required California to rescind “individual records, titles, and awards misappropriated by male athletes competing in female competitions” and issue an apology.
A database maintained by HeCheated.org lists nearly 400 instances of males competing against females in California since 2019 just in track and field. It includes numerous titles won by gender-confused male track athlete “AB Hernandez,” whom Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk specifically asked Newsom about in a March interview.
Legal scholars urged McMahon to take action.
“California isn’t just ignoring federal law — it’s actively siding against fairness for women and girls,” Nicki Neily with Defending Education wrote on X. “Newsom’s words mean nothing when his administration keeps undermining Title IX.”
“Break the law, suffer the consequences,” Sarah Parshall Perry, a legal expert with both Defending Education and the Heritage Foundation, also wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Burgess Owens added in his own criticism.
“This is insane. Forcing women and girls to compete against men is unfair and unsafe,” the Utah Republican wrote. “California Democrats must follow the law and protect women or face the consequences.”
Newsom previously said men in girls’ sports is not fair, but didn’t do anything about it
McMahon’s comments about “fairness” allude to a conversation the state’s left-wing governor gave at the beginning of his new podcast, where he seeks to rebrand himself as a moderate. Newsom is considered a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate.
“I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair,” he told Kirk during their interview.
“I’m not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you… I revere sports. And so the issue of fairness is completely legit, he said.
However, Newsom quickly pivoted to play both sides of the issue.
“There’s also a humility and a grace, that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression,” he claimed, without evidence. “So both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue, but at the same time deal with the unfairness,” he said, essentially explaining why he would not do anything to stop men from beating up girls in sports.
“Would you say ‘no men in female sports,’” Kirk specifically asked Newsom about, before the governor launched into his comments about males in female sports.
The proposed resolution with California follows a deal that the University of Pennsylvania accepted recently.
The Ivy League university once allowed male swimmer William “Lia” Thomas to compete on the women’s swimming team. Thomas also was allowed to use the women’s locker rooms while actual females changed and showered.
As a result of an agreement with the Trump administration, the university agreed to strip Thomas of his school records and apologize to female swimmers.
It also agreed to keep men out of girl’s locker rooms, bathrooms, and other sex-segregated spaces.
