California high school sports federation changes rules after Trump threatens federal funding cuts. (AI Image)

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced on May 25, 2025, that it would be altering its eligibility rules for the upcoming state track and field championships. This decision comes in the wake of a public threat from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that federal funding would be withheld from California if the state continued to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.The CIF’s rule change will affect the state track and field meet set to take place on May 30 and 31, 2025. This adjustment, according to CIF officials, was made to ensure that female athletes who missed out on qualifying for the event due to transgender participation would be given an opportunity to compete. The shift has sparked both praise and criticism, highlighting the ongoing national debate over transgender athletes’ participation in gender-specific sports.CIF introduces new pilot entry processUnder the new policy, any “biological female student-athlete” who would have qualified for the championship but was excluded due to the inclusion of transgender athletes will now be allowed to compete. The CIF explained that this change, which includes a “pilot entry process” for the 2025 championship, was made with the aim of ensuring fair competition while also remaining compliant with California’s laws. As quoted by the New York Post, a CIF spokesperson said, “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 controversy over transgender athletes has been a long-standing issue, and this new rule is seen as an attempt to strike a balance between inclusivity and fairness in the wake of mounting pressure. While transgender athletes will still be allowed to compete, the revised process aims to open up additional spots for female athletes who were previously excluded.Trump’s federal funding threatTrump’s intervention came just days before the CIF’s announcement. On May 23, 2025, the president took to Truth Social, warning that federal funding for California could be in jeopardy if the state continued to allow “men to play in women’s sports.” In his post, Trump condemned the practice as “deeply unfair” and said that it was “demeaning to women and girls.” He further stated, “Large-scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to.“This threat was part of Trump’s broader agenda on gender-specific sports, as he signed an executive order in February 2025 that sought to limit transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports at the state level. The U.S. Department of Education has already launched a federal Title IX investigation into CIF’s policies, which will likely influence future decisions on this matter.Governor Newsom’s responseCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom praised the CIF’s decision, with his office calling it a “reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue.” The governor’s spokesperson emphasized that the new rule “achieves a balance” and maintains competitive fairness without compromising inclusion, as reported by the New York Post. Newsom, who is considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has previously voiced concerns about the fairness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports but supported this new compromise.As the issue continues to divide public opinion, the CIF’s decision represents a temporary solution that might help alleviate tensions ahead of the 2025 state championships.