Home Athletics Trump Administration Threatens Maine’s School Funding Over Transgender Athlete Policies

Trump Administration Threatens Maine’s School Funding Over Transgender Athlete Policies

by Osmond OMOLU
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In a significant development on April 12, 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to revoke all federal education funding to Maine’s public schools due to the state’s refusal to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports teams.

This decision follows a confrontation between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills during a February meeting, where Trump threatened to withhold funds if Maine did not comply with his executive order. Maine had received approximately $250 million in federal K-12 education funding. The U.S. Department of Education will initiate an administrative proceeding to terminate this funding and has referred a Title IX violation investigation to the Department of Justice.

Background of the Dispute

The conflict began when President Trump signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” on February 5, 2025. The order threatened to withhold federal funding from educational programs that allow transgender girls to participate in girls’ sports. Maine Governor Janet Mills publicly rebuked the order during a February 21 National Governors Association event, prompting federal agencies—including the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Justice—to launch investigations and threaten or impose funding cuts.

Maine’s Legal Stance

Despite only two transgender girls competing in school sports statewide and none in the University of Maine system, the Trump administration has aggressively penalized Maine, including suspending funds for educational, scientific, and corrections programs. Maine’s laws, notably the Maine Human Rights Act, protect transgender rights, further opposing Trump’s policies.

Maine officials have refused to sign compliance agreements and have taken legal action against the administration. On April 7, Attorney General Aaron Frey filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order to restore halted USDA funds, which have affected school meal programs. The feud continues as Maine defends trans rights amid increasing federal pressure.

Federal Court Ruling

On April 11, 2025, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal funds to Maine, which had been withheld after the state refused to comply with the executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. The judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must release the withheld funds and prohibited future funding actions without due legal process. The USDA had frozen funds, claiming Maine violated Title IX by not providing equal opportunities for female athletes.

The state, in turn, sued the USDA, stating the freeze impacted essential services like school meals and care for disabled adults. The court sided with Maine, noting the freeze hurt vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services have referred the Maine Department of Education and associated institutions to the Department of Justice for continuing to allow trans athletes in girls’ sports. Tensions escalated after a trans athlete won a girls’ event in a Maine high school, prompting controversy and political response, including the censure of Rep. Laurel Libby. Senator Susan Collins voiced support for the state receiving federal funds but also opposed trans athletes in female sports categories.

National Implications

This dispute between the Trump administration and the state of Maine underscores the broader national conflict over transgender rights and federal oversight in education. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how federal agencies enforce executive orders related to transgender participation in sports and the extent to which states can uphold their own laws protecting transgender individuals. As legal proceedings continue, the tension between federal authority and state rights remains a pivotal issue in the ongoing debate over transgender inclusion in sports.

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