The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended certain federal funds to Maine due to Governor Janet Mills’ refusal to prohibit transgender-identifying males from participating in girls’ sports.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the freeze affects “certain administrative and technological functions in schools.” She emphasized that compliance with federal law, specifically Title IX, is necessary for the continuation of funding.
In a letter, Rollins stated: “You cannot openly violate federal law against discrimination in education and expect federal funding to continue unabated. Your defiance of federal law has cost your state, which is bound by Title IX in educational programming. Today, I am freezing Maine’s federal funds for certain administrative and technological functions in schools.”
This action follows President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at protecting female student-athletes from competing against males. The order mandates federal departments to review and potentially rescind funding to programs that fail to comply.
Governor Mills has publicly opposed the executive order, maintaining that Maine’s policies allow students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. This stance has led to federal scrutiny and funding freezes affecting the state’s educational programs.
The USDA’s funding freeze is part of broader federal efforts to enforce Title IX compliance regarding transgender athletes. Investigations by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services are also underway, with potential implications for additional federal funding to Maine.
This development underscores the ongoing national debate over transgender participation in women’s sports and the intersection of federal authority and state policies.
