California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration’s directive requiring public schools in the state to bar male athletes from participating in girls’ sports.

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The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, marks the latest legal confrontation between state officials and President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.

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The legal dispute stems from a June 3 letter issued by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, which ordered all public school districts in California to submit written certification by June 9 confirming compliance with federal standards.

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Those standards prohibit biological males from competing in female athletic divisions, a stance that conflicts with current California law and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policies.

Under state law, students are permitted to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

“The President and his Administration are demanding that California school districts break the law and violate the Constitution — or face legal retaliation,” Bonta said in a statement.

“They’re demanding that our schools discriminate against the students in their care and deny their constitutionally protected rights.”

The 33-page lawsuit asserts that the federal government lacks legal authority to impose such a requirement and argues that the DOJ’s directive amounts to unconstitutional federal overreach.

The suit claims the order threatens to penalize schools that follow California’s civil rights laws, which require athletic participation to align with gender identity, not biological sex.

In contrast, the Trump administration maintains that California’s law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by requiring female athletes to compete against biological males, thereby depriving them of equal athletic opportunity.

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In her June 3 letter, Dhillon warned school districts that allowing male athletes to compete in girls’ divisions constitutes unlawful sex-based discrimination under the U.S. Constitution.

The issue gained national attention following the performance of transgender athlete AB Hernandez at the California state high school track championships in May.

Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender athlete, won multiple medals in girls’ events, drawing criticism from parents, athletes, and political figures. President Trump and others cited the results as evidence of competitive imbalance and the need for federal intervention.

Following the championship, Dhillon’s letter informed California school districts they could face civil rights liability for violating the rights of female athletes if they continued to allow biologically male students to compete in girls’ categories.

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Supporters of the DOJ directive include local school officials such as Chino Valley Unified School District board president Sonja Shaw.

“Our daughters deserve safe, fair competition,” Shaw said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.

“Radical policies are undermining that right.”

California officials have rejected the federal demands. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond stated that the letter from Dhillon is not enforceable in California, and the California Department of Education informed districts that they are under no obligation to submit any new certifications.

“All students—not just transgender students—benefit from inclusive school environments that are free from discrimination and harassment,” said Len Garfinkel, general counsel for the Department of Education.

“When transgender students are treated equally, their mental health outcomes mirror those of their cisgender peers.”

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Bonta’s lawsuit seeks a court order preventing the Justice Department from enforcing its directive against any school district that follows California’s transgender-inclusive sports policies.

The legal action comes as part of a broader effort by California to challenge federal authority on multiple fronts.

Also on Monday, the state filed a separate 10th Amendment lawsuit over the Trump administration’s decision to federalize the California National Guard to respond to recent riots in Los Angeles.

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