TRENTON, NJ – Today marks the deadline set by President Donald Trump for schools and universities across America to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, under threat of losing federal funding. However, New Jersey is standing firm in defiance, with state officials and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) refusing to comply with the sweeping executive orders issued earlier this month.
On February 5, President Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, directing the Department of Education to reinterpret Title IX—the 1972 law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs—to exclude transgender girls and women from female sports. A subsequent order demanded the termination of DEI initiatives, labeling them “race-based” practices, with a compliance deadline of February 28. Schools failing to meet these requirements risk losing critical federal funds, a move the Trump administration has framed as a defense of fairness and traditional values.
New Jersey, however, is not backing down. The NJSIAA, the governing body for high school athletics in the state, announced earlier this week that it will not alter its long-standing transgender policy, which allows students to compete in sports aligned with their gender identity rather than their sex assigned at birth. Adopted in 2009 and amended in 2017, the policy requires no medical documentation and permits transgender athletes to choose either boys’ or girls’ sports—but not both—before the season begins. NJSIAA legal counsel Steve Goodell reaffirmed this stance during a recent Executive Committee meeting, stating, “We have had no hearings, no controversies. No one has brought to our attention any transgender students [causing issues].”
Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin have emerged as vocal opponents of Trump’s directives, pledging to fight what they call an unconstitutional overreach. In a bold move, Murphy announced the appropriation of a $1 million legal fund to challenge the federal orders in court.
“New Jersey will not bend to threats from Washington that undermine the rights of our students,” Murphy said in a statement. “We will fight to the death to protect our kids—every single one of them—because that’s what it means to lead with principle.”
Platkin, who has already led legal challenges against other Trump policies, including an executive order ending birthright citizenship, echoed this resolve.
“These orders violate federal law, constitutional protections, and basic decency,” he said. “We’re prepared to take this to the Supreme Court if necessary.” The Murphy administration has emphasized that New Jersey’s state laws and educational mandates—including requirements to teach about LGBTQ+ history and unconscious bias—align with its commitment to inclusivity, directly clashing with Trump’s agenda.
The resistance has sparked a national debate. Supporters of Trump’s orders, including conservative groups like the New Jersey Family Policy Center, argue that they protect female athletes and eliminate what they see as discriminatory DEI practices.
“The president and the White House are on the side of parents now,” said Shawn Hyland, the center’s director. “That’s a game changer.” Critics, however, including LGBTQ+ advocates and educators, contend that the policies unfairly target a tiny minority—fewer than 10 transgender athletes compete among the NCAA’s 530,000, according to testimony last year—and threaten the financial stability of schools reliant on federal dollars.
New Jersey’s defiance comes amid a broader wave of pushback. A federal judge recently blocked Trump’s DEI order nationwide, citing First Amendment concerns, though the sports policy remains in effect pending further litigation. In New Jersey, the practical implications are already being felt.
The NJSIAA’s decision has drawn praise from progressive leaders but ire from some parents and conservative lawmakers, who point to cases like Ramapo College swimmer Meghan Cortez-Fields, who broke a women’s record in 2023 after competing on the men’s team during her transition.
As the deadline passes today, the standoff between New Jersey and the Trump administration sets the stage for a legal and political battle that could reshape education and athletics nationwide. With $1 million in legal firepower and a steadfast commitment from Murphy and Platkin, the Garden State is poised to lead the charge against what it sees as an assault on its values.
For now, the NJSIAA’s transgender policy stands—and so does New Jersey’s resolve.