The governing body of California high school athletics adjusted eligibility rules for the upcoming track and field championship meet Tuesday, just hours after President Trump threatened to cut federal funding to the Golden State if it continues to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
The competition, slated for Friday and Saturday, will now include “any biological female student-athlete” who initially failed to qualify for the event because of the participation of transgender athletes.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) claims the decision to expand the field was made “this past weekend” – before Trump’s Truth Social post Tuesday.
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,” the CIF said in a statement. “With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.”
“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,” the group announced.
“The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes,” the federation added.
The rule change will allow at least two female athletes to compete in the state championship after they came up short on Saturday, when a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School came in first place in the triple jump and long jump, according to Fox News.
Under the new policy, transgender athletes will still be able to compete and medal in the tournament.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office praised the decision.
“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,” a spokesperson for Newsom told The Post.
Newsom, 57, who is speculated to be eyeing a 2028 presidential run, split with Democrats earlier this month and acknowledged that “it’s deeply unfair” to allow transgender athletes to compete against biological women.
Prior to the CIF announcement, Trump warned that he would order “local authorities, if necessary, to not allow” a transgender athlete to compete in the state finals.
“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,’” Trump fumed on Truth Social.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” he added.
Back in February, Trump signed an executive order that threatened to strip federal funding from states that don’t bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
The Department of Education is currently conducting a federal Title IX investigation into CIF for allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
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