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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday February 5, 2025 at a signing ceremony titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
As the title reads, the order is intended to ban transgender women athletes from participating in women’s sports.
This has resparked a controversial debate amongst the general public.
Supporters of the ban argue transgender athletes biologically have physical advantages over cisgender women while people who oppose this ban say Trump is looking to harass and discriminate against transgender athletes and women as a whole.
Trump’s administration has tried to limit transgender participation in sports during his presidency, arguing that athletes should compete based on biological sex.
Without the compliance of athletic associations, the White House threatens to withdraw federal funding and take legal action. They argue that defiance against the executive order is a violation of the law.
Organizations across the United States have set guidelines allowing for transgender women to compete in sports. They oppose this executive order because it violates civil rights and promotes discrimination.
The California Interscholastic Federation Council (CIF) is one of these organizations.
They are a governing body that regulates highschool sports, sets eligibility rules and organizes state championships for public and private highschools across the state. They ensure high school athletics promote education, sportsmanship and fair play.
As of February 7, 2025, the CIF has made the decision to ignore the order to ban transgender athletes.
The CIF claims that because high school sport regulations are determined by state athletic associations and not the federal government, they will not follow the law.
The federal government can make policies that control funding and set anti discriminatory laws, but only the state and its organizations can decide the rules for athlete participation.
CIF currently stands with California’s anti discrimination laws and inclusive policies which is why they are for protecting transgender students rights in and outside athletics.
The California Interscholastic Federation Council has a Transgender Participation Policy which allows for transgender student athletes to participate in sports as long as they align with their gender identity.
The purpose of their policy is to ensure fair competition while also providing a safe and inclusive environment for transgender student athletes.
They have reaffirmed their commitment to inclusivity and the protection of transgender students’ rights, completely ignoring the new executive order.
State athletic associations make the rules for high school sports and are not required to follow federal orders.
This decision has gotten much support and much criticism from the general public but the California Interscholastic Federation Council will remain with their foot down and let transgender student athletes participate in sports.
The CIFs choice to ignore Trump’s executive order puts them at risk of losing federal funding, receiving lawsuits from the federal government and conflict between state and federal law.
Other athletic organizations have stood alongside the CIF in defying the new order, including the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (MSHSL) and the Minnesota State High School League (NJSIAA).
