Filed Date: March 6, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case involves the Trump Administration's attempt to withhold university funding from a school that had a transgender athlete compete on its team for several seasons.
The Board of Trustees of the California State University (CSU) filed suit against the United States Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon on March 6, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit arose from a dispute over a transgender woman student ("Student 1") who played on San Jose State University's (SJSU) women's volleyball team from 2022 to 2024 in compliance with NCAA rules, Mountain West Conference rules, and SJSU's interpretation of binding U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit law.
In January 2026, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights issued a Letter of Findings alleging that SJSU violated Title IX by allowing Student 1 to participate on women's teams and use women's facilities. CSU argued that their conduct was required by Ninth Circuit precedent protecting transgender students from discrimination and that during the relevant period, the federal government itself took the position that Title IX prohibited discrimination against transgender people. The plaintiffs further contended that the Department was threatening to revoke federal funding unless SJSU agreed to terms requiring policy changes and public statements, despite SJSU's conduct being lawful when it occurred. CSU brought nine causes of action under the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including violations of the Spending Clause, Title IX interpretation issues, Equal Protection concerns, arbitrary and capricious agency action, procedural failures, and First Amendment violations. The university sought various remedies including expedited resolution, declaratory judgments, vacating the Letter of Findings, and both preliminary and permanent injunctions preventing defendants from terminating funding.
The case was assigned to District Judge Eumi K. Lee.
On March 27, 2026, the parties jointly filed a stipulation and proposed order establishing case management procedures and interim protections while defendants considered whether to act on the January 28, 2026 Letter of Findings. The agreement established several key provisions, including joint status reports every 60 days, expedited briefing procedures if funding action was taken, and interim protections preventing funding disruption. The court signed the proposed order on March 31, 2026. This action remains pending.
Summary Authors
Maddy Ligon (4/21/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72376094/parties/board-of-trustees-of-the-california-state-university-v-united-states/
Bessler, Abigail (California)
Fry, David H. (California)
Heckenlively, Bryan H. (California)
Long, Cynthia Y. (California)
Shim, Abigail Hayoung (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72376094/board-of-trustees-of-the-california-state-university-v-united-states/
Last updated April 21, 2026, 3:38 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 6, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Board of Trustees of the California State University, on behalf of San José State University.
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
LINDA McMAHON
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Spending/Appropriations Clauses
Other Dockets:
Northern District of California 5:26-cv-01970
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Case Summary of Board of Trustees of the California State University v. United States Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47892/ (last updated 4/21/2026).