Governor Gavin Newsom is under fire after Education Secretary Linda McMahon warned California to follow federal rules banning males from competing in women’s sports. The Trump administration is cracking down on schools that allow transgender athletes to play on teams that don’t match their biological sex. This comes after Newsom admitted it’s “deeply unfair” for biological males to dominate girls’ sports but refused to take action in his own state.
McMahon’s letter to Newsom demands that California schools protect women’s sports or risk losing federal funding. She accused Newsom of letting teachers hide kids’ gender changes from parents, calling it “immoral” and against federal law. The state is also under investigation for a law that lets schools keep students’ gender identity secret from families. Conservatives say parents, not schools, should decide what’s best for their children.
Newsom stirred controversy earlier this month when he agreed with conservative activist Charlie Kirk that letting males compete in women’s sports is wrong. He called it a “fairness” issue but tried to balance his comments with claims about supporting transgender mental health. Critics blasted him for siding with Kirk, a vocal Trump ally, instead of standing up for LGBTQ rights.
Riley Gaines, a former swimmer who lost to transgender athlete Lia Thomas, cheered McMahon’s move. She challenged Newsom to “put your money where your mouth is” by changing California’s policies. President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports has put blue states like California on notice. The NCAA now bars biological males from women’s competitions, reversing years of lax rules under Biden.
Newsom’s mixed messages highlight his struggle to appeal to both liberals and moderates ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run. While he bragged about expanding LGBTQ rights as San Francisco mayor, his recent shift on sports has angered activists. They accused him of abandoning transgender youth to score political points. Even some Democrats in Congress called his comments “disturbing” and harmful.
California’s far-left laws have made it a battleground in the culture wars. The state forces schools to let transgender athletes join girls’ teams and use girls’ bathrooms. Teachers can’t tell parents if a student changes genders without permission. Conservatives argue these policies destroy women’s sports and violate parental rights. The Trump administration is fighting back with funding threats and legal pressure.
Newsom claims he supports “fairness” but won’t undo California’s transgender sports rules. His allies say the 2013 state law allowing transgender athletes was settled long ago. But with federal dollars at risk, schools may soon have to choose between state and federal mandates. Parents and athletes are caught in the middle as politicians clash over biology versus identity.
The battle over women’s sports is part of Trump’s broader push to reverse Biden-era transgender policies. From banning gender transitions in the military to defining sex as biological, the administration is drawing clear lines. Newsom’s attempt to straddle both sides could backfire, leaving him isolated as California defies Washington. For conservatives, this standoff is about protecting women’s opportunities and stopping radical gender ideology in schools.
