Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a stern warning to California, Maine, and Minnesota, urging them to comply with federal antidiscrimination laws that prohibit boys from participating in women’s sports. This move comes as part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to enforce President Donald Trump‘s recent executive order aimed at protecting women’s sports.
Bondi sent letters to the attorneys general of these states, emphasizing that the Department of Justice will not tolerate violations of federal law. “This Department of Justice will hold accountable states and state entities that violate federal law,” Bondi stated. “We also stand ready to sue states and state entities that defy federal antidiscrimination laws,” she added, referencing the Justice Department’s recent actions against Illinois and New York for defying federal immigration laws.
The warning follows President Trump’s directive to prioritize enforcement actions against athletic associations that deny girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports by requiring them to compete against boys. State athletic associations in California, Maine, and Minnesota have expressed intentions to continue allowing transgender-identifying males to compete in girls’ sports, despite the federal order.
In Minnesota, Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a legal opinion suggesting that the Minnesota State High School League would violate state law if it stopped this practice. Meanwhile, the Department of Education is investigating the California Interscholastic Federation and the Maine Department of Education for potential Title IX violations.
Bondi emphasized that the Department of Justice does not wish to resort to legal action but will do so if necessary. “We only want states and state entities to comply with the law,” she said. “Federal law requires giving girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by ensuring they compete only with other girls, not with boys.”
President Trump’s executive order, signed on February 5, 2025, defines allowing men and boys to compete in women’s sports as “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous” and illegal under Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972. Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to non-compliant states, including Maine, where he re
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