Trump Admin Cuts Funding to Maine Universities as State Defies Order to Ban Trans-identifying Athletes From Women’s Sports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily suspended funding to the University of Maine System (UMS) amid an escalating dispute over trans-identifying athletes in women’s sports, UMS officials confirmed Tuesday.
The pause follows Maine’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order barring trans-identifying athletes from women’s sports competitions, marking a significant escalation in the administration’s enforcement actions on this issue.
“An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s ‘awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System,'” a UMS spokesperson said.
“This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations,” according to the USDA message.
It continued: “Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice.”
In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA awarded $29.78 million to UMS for research, with the department claiming it has provided over $100 million to the system in recent years.
UMS maintains it is “in compliance with relevant state and federal laws” and that its universities are NCAA members. The system spokesperson added they are “unaware” of any Title VI violations but will provide further clarity after “further analysis is completed.”
The controversy intensified following President Trump’s March 4 address to Congress, where he reaffirmed his intention to penalize states allowing trans-identifying athletes to compete in women’s sports.
This followed his Feb. 20 meeting with Republican governors, where he specifically threatened to cut funding to Maine over this issue.
Maine Governor Janet Mills responded by threatening legal action against the Trump administration if federal funding was withheld.
The dispute culminated in a widely publicized verbal confrontation between Trump and Mills during a bipartisan governors’ meeting at the White House. Shortly after that exchange, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Maine for potential Title IX violations related to transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already determined that Maine and its education department violated Title IX and referred the matter to the Justice Department.
The controversy gained national attention when Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby identified a trans-identifying athlete who won a girls’ state pole vault competition at Greely High School. The school subsequently received police protection during the ensuing controversy.
Libby was later censured by Maine’s House of Representatives and Speaker Ryan Fecteau for her social media post. On Tuesday, she filed a lawsuit against Fecteau seeking restoration of her voting and speaking rights.
The dispute has sparked demonstrations across the state, including a recent “March Against Mills” protest outside Maine’s State House, where female athletes spoke out against the Democratic governor.
The following day, pro-transgender rights activists protested outside Libby’s home with signs reading “Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain” and “Protect trans youth.”
The NCAA has also amended its gender eligibility policy to prohibit athletes born biologically male from competing in women’s sports, aligning with the administration’s position.
The pause follows Maine’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order barring trans-identifying athletes from women’s sports competitions, marking a significant escalation in the administration’s enforcement actions on this issue.
“An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s ‘awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System,'” a UMS spokesperson said.
“This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations,” according to the USDA message.
It continued: “Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice.”
In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA awarded $29.78 million to UMS for research, with the department claiming it has provided over $100 million to the system in recent years.
UMS maintains it is “in compliance with relevant state and federal laws” and that its universities are NCAA members. The system spokesperson added they are “unaware” of any Title VI violations but will provide further clarity after “further analysis is completed.”
The controversy intensified following President Trump’s March 4 address to Congress, where he reaffirmed his intention to penalize states allowing trans-identifying athletes to compete in women’s sports.
This followed his Feb. 20 meeting with Republican governors, where he specifically threatened to cut funding to Maine over this issue.
Maine Governor Janet Mills responded by threatening legal action against the Trump administration if federal funding was withheld.
The dispute culminated in a widely publicized verbal confrontation between Trump and Mills during a bipartisan governors’ meeting at the White House. Shortly after that exchange, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Maine for potential Title IX violations related to transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already determined that Maine and its education department violated Title IX and referred the matter to the Justice Department.
The controversy gained national attention when Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby identified a trans-identifying athlete who won a girls’ state pole vault competition at Greely High School. The school subsequently received police protection during the ensuing controversy.
Libby was later censured by Maine’s House of Representatives and Speaker Ryan Fecteau for her social media post. On Tuesday, she filed a lawsuit against Fecteau seeking restoration of her voting and speaking rights.
The dispute has sparked demonstrations across the state, including a recent “March Against Mills” protest outside Maine’s State House, where female athletes spoke out against the Democratic governor.
The following day, pro-transgender rights activists protested outside Libby’s home with signs reading “Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain” and “Protect trans youth.”
The NCAA has also amended its gender eligibility policy to prohibit athletes born biologically male from competing in women’s sports, aligning with the administration’s position.
70-79, M
