Sacramento, California – The governing board for California high school sports is modifying the competition rules for this weekend’s state track and field championships to allow more girls to compete, following a dispute over the participation of a transgender student-athlete.
The California Interscholastic Federation claimed it was allowing more “biological female” competitors to compete in the championship meet. The group announced the adjustment on Tuesday, following President Donald Trump’s social media tweet regarding a transgender athlete’s participation in the competition.
“Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” a statement from the federation read. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”
The move comes amid a worldwide debate over transgender student rights, in which states have restricted transgender females from participating on girls’ sports teams, prohibited gender-affirming procedures for minors, and forced parents to be told if a child’s pronouns change while at school. At least 24 states have laws that prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in various sports. Some policies have been blocked in court.
According to a recent AP-NORC poll, roughly 7 in 10 persons in the United States believe transgender female athletes should be barred from participating in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college, and professional levels. Approximately 90% of Republicans and roughly 50% of Democrats agreed with this viewpoint.
The organization did not say if the adjustment applies to all events or just those in which a trans athlete has qualified for the final. This adjustment only affects this weekend’s competition. The organization did not specify how many kids will be affected by the adjustment.
The regulation change may be the first nationwide move by a high school sports governing organization to broaden competition for trans athletes.
Trump threatens to remove government funds.
On Tuesday, Trump threatened to withdraw federal funding from California if the state did not prohibit transgender pupils from participating in girls’ sports. The post mentioned AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who will compete in the females varsity triple jump, high jump, and long jump at the state finals. She won the Division 3 girls long jump and triple jump and finished sixth in the high jump at the Southern Section Division Finals on May 19, according to CIF records.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Trump also chastised Maine’s Democratic governor, who indicated the state will sue the president over his efforts to prevent transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
The Trump administration initiated an investigation earlier this year into a California legislation that prohibits schools from requiring teachers and staff to tell parents if a youngster changes their gender identity at school.
Newsom praised change.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has stated on his podcast that it is “deeply unfair” for transgender girls to compete in female sports. Charlie Kirk, a Republican analyst and podcast guest, brought up Hernandez when pressing Newsom about the matter.
Trump indicated he’d talk to Newsom about it on Tuesday. The governor’s office would not confirm the call, but did describe the California Interscholastic Federation regulation modification as a “thoughtful approach.”