California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, challenging a federal directive issued by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. The federal order demands that California schools prohibit transgender girls—biological males—from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Bonta argues that this demand violates state laws and the rights of transgender students, while Dhillon maintains that the inclusion of males in female sports is unconstitutional and unfair to girls.
Harmeet Dhillon’s Federal Directive Sparks Conflict
Last week, Harmeet Dhillon sent letters to multiple school districts across California. In those letters, she instructed school administrators to confirm in writing that male-born athletes would be barred from joining girls’ teams. Dhillon argued that allowing biological males to compete against girls violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and could be considered sex discrimination.
Rob Bonta Pushes Back with a Lawsuit
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched a legal counterattack. He claimed that Dhillon’s directive oversteps federal authority and directly conflicts with California’s anti-discrimination laws and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policies. CIF allows students to participate in school sports in alignment with their gender identity, regardless of what gender is listed on official documents.
“The state has every right to uphold policies that foster inclusion, support student well-being, and protect all youth—including transgender students,” Bonta’s office stated.
Trump’s Executive Order Adds Fuel to the Fire
This legal battle also ties into a broader federal policy push. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order states that males competing in female athletics is not only unfair and unsafe but also a violation of the rights of women and girls.
The policy threatens to cut federal funding from schools that allow such participation, framing the issue as one of “truth, dignity, and safety” for women.
Julie Hamill and Sophia Lorey Criticize California’s Stance
Prominent voices in California’s legal and advocacy circles have spoken out against Bonta’s lawsuit. Julie Hamill, an attorney with the California Justice Center, believes the federal government is right to step in. She argues that California’s inclusion policies disregard Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education.
“Permitting biological males in girls-only sports categories erases the rights of female athletes and violates federal protections,” Hamill said.
Sophia Lorey, outreach director at California Family Council, echoed this concern after witnessing AB Hernandez, a male-born athlete, share the podium with two girls at the California State Track and Field Championships.
“Watching girls forced to share one of their greatest achievements with a male competitor was devastating,” Lorey said. “It felt like the erasure of everything girls’ sports have stood for.”
A Deepening Divide Over Gender and Athletics
The lawsuit filed by Rob Bonta, and the federal demands made by Harmeet Dhillon, highlight the growing national tension around transgender inclusion and fairness in sports. California sees its approach as necessary for protecting the mental health and inclusion of transgender youth, while critics argue that it undermines opportunities and fairness for biological female athletes.
As this case heads to the courts, the outcome could set a powerful precedent for how gender identity is handled in competitive sports across the country. It will likely influence future federal education funding decisions, state-level sports policies, and the interpretation of Title IX for years to come.
