A Judge’s Ruling Unfreezes Federal Funds for Maine Amidst Transgender Athlete Policy Dispute
Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills speaks at a news conference at Morse High School on Oct. 20, 2022, in Bath, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/AP
A federal judge has temporarily lifted the Trump administration’s suspension of federal funding that was designated for Maine. This funding, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had been withheld following a conflict between President Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills regarding transgender athletes.
U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock on Friday approved Maine’s request for a temporary restraining order. The USDA, one of the agencies where funding was at risk, has not yet commented on the decision.
The disagreement originated when President Trump issued an executive order in early February prohibiting transgender student athletes from joining girls’ sports teams. The order also directed the federal government to withdraw funds from educational initiatives that deny women and girls equitable athletic opportunities.
The Maine Principals’ Association, which manages school sports in the state, announced its intention to continue allowing transgender girls to participate, citing a contradiction between federal action and state law. During a governors’ event at the White House on February 21, Trump directly challenged Mills for opposing his order.
“You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t,” Trump told Mills. Her response was, “See you in court.”
Subsequent to this incident, Trump has demanded an apology from Gov. Mills. He stated on social media, “We need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled,” he wrote.
The Trump administration has initiated various investigations into Maine, pointing to concerns related to Title IX, which forbids sex-based discrimination in education, as reported by Maine Public Radio. These investigations involve the Education Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Earlier this month, the USDA became involved. In a letter dated April 2, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins informed Mills that certain USDA funding for school administrative and technological purposes would be halted due to the governor’s “defiance of federal law.”
While the extent of the impacted aid remains uncertain, Rollins hinted that further educational and research funding might be reassessed. In response, Maine filed a complaint, arguing that the USDA bypassed required statutory and regulatory procedures before terminating federal funds.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, in the suit, urged the court to restore federal funds, emphasizing that the aid supports feeding schoolchildren in Maine.
