President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened that the state would continue to cut federal funds to California if trans athletes allow women’s sports.
Trump blasted Governor Gavin Newsom in an early morning post on the true society, where states say under his leadership, “continue to illegally allow men to play in women’s sports.”
“Would I talk to him today and find out how he wants to go?” Trump said of the newspaper. “Until then, I have ordered local authorities to not allow people who have been transferred to compete in the state finals, if necessary. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”
The president’s post appeared to refer to a junior at California High School who won women’s long jumps and triple jumps at the federal southern convention between California.
California is the second state to enter Trump’s crosshair over the participation of trans athletes in youth sports. Last month, Trump began the process of stripping Maine of federal education in the fight over issues between the president and Maine Governor Janet Mills. The dispute quickly landed in court.
Unlike the governor of Maine, Newsom recently said it was “deeply unfair” for people born as biological men to compete in women’s sports. He has not responded to Trump’s posts.
When asked at a press conference in April whether California should adopt laws restricting trans athletes from competing in women’s sports, the governor said he was open to debate.
“You’re talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes. My responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” Newsom said.
“And as long as someone can find that right balance, I hope to present myself to those conversations and those conversations, accepting the dignity that means the humanity around that conversation.
This is not the first time Trump has threatened to cut funds, particularly education dollars, to California.
In a letter to Newsom in April, the Trump-appointed chief of the US Department of Agriculture, conditioned on assistance in following Trump’s instructions. It cited a federal investigation of state law that prohibits schools automatically notify families of changes in student gender identity and prohibits teachers from retaliation to support the rights of transgender students.
California joined other states in April and opposed the Trump administration, certifying that the state’s 1,000 school districts have ended all diversity, equity and inclusion programs. That Trump’s order also arrived with the federal threat of cutting billions of dollars in education funding if the state fails to comply.
One of the uncertainties of Trump’s latest social media posts was whether he was referring to education funding alone or additional federal support for California. This includes disaster relief, food aid for the poor, and dollars to support low-income housing.
California has long been sending more money to Washington, DC with federal tax revenues than federal support, according to Newsom. Anyway, the funds that California depends on is important.
While it is difficult to calculate the total amount California receives from the federal government in education funding, some tallys have annual figures of $16.3 billion, or about $2,750 per k-12 student. That money includes funding for school lunches, students with disabilities, and the Early Education Head Start Program.
According to the California Department of Education, states also receive more than $2.1 billion in Title I to combat the effects of poverty (more than any other state) than any other state.
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