New Documents Reveal Activist Influence in Maine Education

Recent documents obtained by custody groups indicate that activists within Maine’s Department of Education are reportedly ignoring directives from President Donald Trump.

In the early days of his presidency, Trump issued two significant executive orders aimed at overhauling American education. The first, in January, targeted “radical indoctrination” in K-12 classrooms by calling for the removal of certain gender ideologies from educational content.

The second order, issued in February, sought to preserve women’s sports by prohibiting biological males from competing. This directive emphasizes that educational institutions could lose federal funding if they allow such participation. Maine, however, has pushed back against these orders, straining relationships with the federal government.

At a televised dinner with the governor, Trump asserted that Maine Governor Janet Mills should enforce the law to limit women’s sports to biological females. Mills countered with a firm refusal, stating she would take the matter to court. New documents, obtained through public records requests by Defending Education, suggest that the issue extends beyond just the governor. They imply that the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) is heavily influenced by activists intent on shaping school policies.

These documents include emails from MDOE Commissioner Pendermakin and other officials. Notably, Makin began drafting communications to state schools the day after Trump’s executive order, asserting that it wouldn’t override Maine laws or local school board policies. She reiterated these points in another email the following day.

After the order regarding women’s sports was issued, Makin sent another email advising her team to disregard it, arguing the Maine Human Rights Act supersedes such administrative directives. This assertion has some ambiguity, as Maine’s human rights law appears to allow for certain restrictions on male participation in women’s sports. Citing this law as a defense against Trump’s orders seems more like an attempt to uphold specific ideological beliefs within Maine’s educational system.

Makin’s emails also indicate she consulted with the executive director of an LGBTQ organization for strategies on countering the White House’s policies.

Adding to the concern, another email from MDOE’s Director of Policy, Courtney Belloran, revealed her preferred pronouns are “they/them.” Belloran leads the legislative team shaping education policy, indicating a personal belief system that might not align with the majority of Maine families.

The state’s educational department, funded by taxpayers, serves a diverse population, many of whom do not subscribe to beliefs surrounding gender identity. While Maine’s governor has drawn attention for resisting Trump, the challenges run much deeper. The state’s education sector appears to be filled with activists more focused on advancing their political agendas than providing a quality education for students.

This situation reflects a broader trend of gender ideology taking hold in Maine’s schools. There is a growing call for a comprehensive investigation into the MDOE to address the root causes of these issues.