Trump Administration Moves to Cut Federal Education Funding for Maine Over Transgender Athlete Policy

The Trump administration announced Friday that it will move to cut off all federal education funding to Maine’s public schools, escalating a standoff over the state’s refusal to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports teams.

The U.S. Department of Education said it plans to launch an administrative process to terminate Maine’s federal K-12 education funding—money that totals around $250 million. In addition, the department referred its ongoing Title IX investigation into the Maine Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Justice, signaling a potential legal enforcement move.

This action marks another step in a growing clash between former President Donald Trump and Democratic Governor Janet Mills. The dispute began after a tense exchange during a February 21 White House meeting with governors. At that meeting, Trump threatened to withhold funding from any state that refused to enforce his executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

“We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court,” Mills responded at the time.

The Education Department’s latest move followed a finding by its Office for Civil Rights, which claimed Maine was in violation of Title IX—a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools—because the state allows transgender students to compete on girls’ teams and use gender-aligned facilities.

Maine officials have stood firm in their position. Back in 2021, the state legislature passed a law explicitly banning discrimination based on gender identity in public education. That law remains in effect, and Maine authorities have made it clear they won’t back down.

“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,” Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster wrote in a letter to the Education Department earlier on Friday.

The conflict hasn’t been limited to education funding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also moved to cut off school lunch funding to Maine over the same issue. In response, the state filed a lawsuit earlier this week to block the USDA’s action. On Friday, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock Jr. granted a temporary restraining order preventing the USDA from halting those funds—at least for now.

As the legal battle unfolds, Maine officials remain committed to defending their law and their students.