Maine Governor Janet Mills defies federal Title IX regulations on transgender athletes, risking millions in education funding as the Justice Department prepares legal action.
At a Glance
- Maine has been referred to the Department of Justice after refusing to sign a Title IX agreement banning transgender girls from female sports
- The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal education funding from Maine over this non-compliance
- Governor Mills has declared “See you in court,” signaling her intention to fight the federal directive
- A federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze USDA funds that had been withheld from Maine
- The conflict highlights tensions between state laws protecting transgender athletes and federal Title IX interpretations
Maine Defies Federal Transgender Athlete Ban
Maine has officially been referred to the Department of Justice after refusing to comply with federal Title IX regulations regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. The state, led by Democratic Governor Janet Mills, missed a deadline to sign an agreement that would have barred transgender students assigned male at birth from participating in girls’ sports. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is now taking steps to enforce compliance, with potentially serious financial consequences for Maine’s education system.
The conflict stems from divergent interpretations of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. While the Trump administration views allowing biological males to compete in female sports as discrimination against women and girls, Maine officials maintain that both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause permit transgender participation in girls’ sports.
The Trump administration has frozen specific federal funds to Maine due to the state’s policy permitting transgender athletes to participate in girls’ and women’s sports. This action aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14201, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,”… https://t.co/XaC8uVvbSR
— Media (@mediatvz_) April 3, 2025
Federal Funding at Risk
The Department of Education has initiated procedures to withhold federal education funding from Maine, potentially impacting schools across the state. This escalation follows what the federal government describes as multiple opportunities for Maine to comply with Title IX requirements. The standoff has already affected some funding streams, with the USDA temporarily pausing funding for certain school functions before a federal judge intervened.
“The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance with Title IX, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity.”, said Craig Trainor.
The Trump administration has been direct about the consequences of non-compliance. During a heated exchange with Governor Mills, President Trump stated: “You’d better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding.” Attorney General Pam Bondi has reinforced this position, declaring that the “Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law.”
Legal Battle Unfolds
The conflict has already reached the courts, with U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock granting Maine’s request for a temporary restraining order to unfreeze USDA funding. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey argued successfully that these funds were essential for feeding schoolchildren in the state. This initial ruling suggests the courts may not fully support the administration’s funding withholding strategy.
“If the President attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of Federal funding, my Administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides. The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.”, said Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
Maine officials have remained steadfast in their position. Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster has formally responded to the federal government, noting, “Nothing in Title IX or its implementing regulations prohibits schools from allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls’ and women’s sports teams. Your letters to date do not cite a single case that so holds.” This sets the stage for a broader legal battle over the interpretation of Title IX that could have national implications.
State vs. Federal Authority
The standoff between Maine and the federal government highlights ongoing tensions regarding state rights versus federal authority in matters of education policy. Maine’s resistance is backed by its Democratic-controlled government, with both legislative chambers and the governorship under Democratic leadership. The Maine Principals’ Association has decided to continue allowing transgender girls to compete in accordance with state law, despite federal pressure.
This is not the first clash between Maine officials and the Trump administration. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows previously attempted to ban Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot, a decision that was ultimately overturned by state and U.S. Supreme Courts. The current dispute over transgender athletes appears likely to progress through the legal system, potentially leading to a landmark decision on the scope and application of Title IX in modern educational settings.
