California State University filed a rare lawsuit against the federal government after the White House demanded San Jose State apologize to athletes over the participation of a transgender volleyball player, according to university sources. The system’s legal move pits a large public university system against federal pressure tied to athletic policy and civil-rights questions. CSU’s lawsuit signals an escalation in institutional pushback against federal directives that trustees and administrators view as encroaching on campus autonomy and Title IX compliance. The filing is part of a broader legal and policy fight over how public institutions handle gender identity in intercollegiate sports.