The Trump administration has announced the suspension of all U.S. Interior Department grants to Maine, citing discriminatory sex-based hiring quotas implemented by the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). This decision follows ongoing disputes between the federal government and Maine over policies related to transgender athletes and gender-based hiring practices.
According to a letter from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director Paul Souza to MDIFW Commissioner Judy Camuso, the department’s policy mandates that all hiring panels consist of 50% women. Souza stated that this requirement violates Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and federal grant regulations. The letter indicated that unless MDIFW rescinds the policy by May 15, all federal grant funding will be halted.
This action is part of a broader federal response to Maine’s policies on gender and discrimination. Previously, the Trump administration froze federal funds to Maine over the state’s refusal to comply with an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The administration has also filed a civil lawsuit against Maine’s Department of Education, alleging violations of federal anti-discrimination laws.
Commissioner Camuso, the first female head of MDIFW, has been noted for her significant salary increase since 2018, raising questions about the department’s internal policies. The federal government’s latest move underscores its commitment to enforcing anti-discrimination laws and ensuring that federal funds are not used to support policies deemed discriminatory.
