The California Department of Education is defying the Trump administration's directive to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in accordance with their gender identity, a move that escalates the ongoing clash between state and federal authorities.

The California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) have refused to comply with the Trump administration’s demand that the state ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity.

The California Department of Education (CDE) on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s demands to keep men out of women’s sports.