(The Lion) — The U.S. secretary of education sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom asking him to remind California schools that allowing transgender participation in sports is currently contrary to federal law.

It comes weeks after Newsom shocked progressive allies by saying he believes that transgender participation in sports against girls is unfair, in what critics see as a political move to appear more moderate in hopes of a run for president in 2028.

Linda McMahon’s letter twists the screws on the possible grandstanding by laying out some ambitious goals for the governor of the Golden State that move beyond words.

“Take a stand on your convictions. Be clear about the harms of gender confusion. Protect female spaces. Do not encourage children to seek permanent medical intervention to their sex. Inform parents,” wrote McMahon.

McMahon then enumerated instances of practices under California law instituted by Newsom that run contrary to his own new “fairness” doctrine on the issue.

The education secretary asked Newsom to pass California bill AB 844, a Republican-sponsored law that would ensure girls’ participation in sports based on sex, not gender identity.

Then McMahon reminded Newsom that the issue was no longer a matter of debate, but a matter of U.S. law, violations of which could lead to a loss of federal funding and the imposition of other punitive actions.

“Allowing participation in sex-separated activities based on ‘gender identity’ places schools at risk of Title IX violations and loss of federal funding,” said McMahon. “As Governor, you have a duty to warn California school districts of this risk.”

McMahon also reminded Newsom that the California prohibition against notifying parents of a child’s gender confusion is contrary to U.S. law.

“If a student claims a gender identity at school, managing this issue bureaucratically while hiding it from parents, violates the Family, Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),” the McMahon letter reads.

She called the practice by schools of hiding gender confusion from parents “morally wrong.”

The letter gives added impetus to related actions taken by the Trump administration.

It comes as McMahon’s department announces a federal investigation into the California law that allows schools to hide a child’s gender dysphoria from parents.

“Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one,” said McMahon about the investigation.

FERPA gives parents the right to access their children’s education records, the right to request record corrections or amendments, and the right to control, with important exceptions, disclosure of personally identifiable information in education records.

FERPA is at odds with California Assembly Bill 1955, which was signed into law by Newsom and took effect on Jan. 1.

As a result, according to the California Justice Center, “every public school in California has a policy of denying, or effectively preventing, the parents of students … the right to inspect and review the education records of their children,” noted the department’s announcement of the investigation.