Topline
The Trump administration will file a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ sports in Maine, claiming the state has violated Title IX while threatening to pull federal funds, escalating a dispute between President Donald Trump and Maine following a verbal clash with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills earlier this year.
The lawsuit is the latest in a clash between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who told the … More
Key Facts
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday the Justice Department will sue Maine’s education department for violating Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports, saying the Trump administration will “continue to use every legal tool available to remedy these violations and protect women’s civil rights.”
Trump issued an executive order in February preventing transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports, to which Maine officials said earlier this month the state would not comply with, arguing “nothing in Title IX” or other regulations included in the law prohibits transgender girls and women from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams.
The state has accused the Trump administration of failing to “cite a single case” supporting its position.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
What Has Trump Said About Maine?
Trump verbally sparred with Mills during a National Governors Association session in February, during which Trump asked Mills if she would direct Maine officials to comply with his executive order. “I’m complying with state and federal laws,” Mills argued, as Trump responded: “We are the federal law. You better do it because you’re not going to get federal funding.” Mills responded, “We’ll see you in court,” as Trump said he would “look forward to that.”
Will The Trump Administration Freeze Federal Funds To Maine?
It briefly did earlier this month. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency would pause funding for Maine educational programs over what she said was the state’s failure to comply with Title IX, according to court filings. Maine sued the Department of Agriculture on April 7, after state officials said federal funds for a nutritional program couldn’t be accessed, as Frey said the Trump administration was “illegally withholding grant funds that go to keeping children fed.” Judge John Woodcock last week ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze the funds, estimated by Frey to be about $1.8 million for the current fiscal year. It’s unclear whether the Trump administration will cancel more federal funding.
Key Background
Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports,” bars students assigned male at birth from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The order was one of many signed by Trump targeting transgender Americans, including one that seeks to limit access to gender transition surgeries for people younger than 19 and another that says the U.S. will recognize only two sexes, male and female. Following the order and Trump’s verbal clash with Mills, the Education Department notified the state in March saying the agency’s Office of Civil Rights concluded Maine’s education department violated Title IX. Maine officials have refused to agree with the Trump administration’s assessment, arguing Title IX does not prevent schools from letting transgender athletes participate.
Further Reading
Trump Verbally Clashes With Maine Governor Over Trans Athletes: ‘We’ll See You In Court’ (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/04/16/trump-administration-sues-maine-over-trans-athletes-in-girls-sports-threatening-federal-funding/