The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice said January 15, 2026, that their Title IX Special Investigations Team has opened an investigation into the California Community College Athletic Association over a policy allowing certain transgender and non-binary athletes to compete on women’s teams after at least one year of testosterone suppression treatment.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) said their joint Title IX Special Investigations Team (SIT) has opened an investigation into the California Community College Athletic Association, which the federal government referred to in its announcement as “3C2A.”
According to ED, the investigation concerns the association’s “Transgender Participation Policy,” which states that “a trans[gender] female… or non-binary student-athlete who has completed at least one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment… may compete on a women’s team.”
ED said the investigation was triggered by a complaint submitted to the department’s Office for Civil Rights alleging the policy resulted in sex-based discrimination against at least three female athletes. The complaint, as described by ED and The Daily Wire, alleges that a male athlete was allowed to play on a women’s volleyball team at a member college and to access women’s locker facilities during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The complaint also alleges the association did not act on concerns raised by female students.
In a statement published by ED and quoted by The Daily Wire, Kimberly Richey, identified as the assistant secretary for civil rights, criticized the policy and referenced California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the administration would not tolerate policies it views as eroding sex-based protections under Title IX.
ED and DOJ announced the creation of the Title IX SIT on April 4, 2025, describing it as a joint team intended to speed Title IX investigations by drawing staff from ED and DOJ offices.
The investigation was announced two days after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 13, 2026, in two cases involving state restrictions on transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports: Bradley Little, et al. v. Lindsay Hecox, et al. and West Virginia, et al. v. B.P.J.
