Linda McMahon from the U.S. Education Bureau claimed in a Fox News digital report that Maine Education Commissioner has undermined Donald Trump’s executive order through an email sent to schools.
McMahon shared her thoughts on X, pointing out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Maine for its handling of Title IX issues.
“The reason behind this is their active resistance to federal law,” McMahon stated. She highlighted the ongoing lawsuit from the Department of Justice against the state for allegedly violating Title IX. “Ignoring federal law will have repercussions,” she added.
An email sourced from the Maine Education Department by Pendermakin indicated that several schools believe they comply with Maine law while disregarding Trump’s January executive order concerning public education. It mentioned, “Last week we encouraged schools to align with Maine Human Rights Act and local school board policies on non-discrimination. We wish to ensure safety for all. It’s important to clarify that neither our state law nor local policies are diminished by federal executive orders.”
“Most executive orders pertain to federal agencies and laws where Maine has no jurisdiction,” it further noted.
Makin, aligned with Maine Attorney General Sarah Forster, distributed a memo to schools referencing Trump’s push against “radical indoctrination” from K-12 education while advising schools to refrain from adhering to these executive orders. The memo asserted that “this EO will not change anything for Maine schools,” insisting they should follow state regulations.
In another memo on January 31st, Makin mentioned to school supervisors and leaders that the executive order does not alter school responsibilities under state laws, including the Maine human rights law, nor does it necessitate immediate changes to local school board policies.
Maine representative Laurel Libby expressed her views in an interview with Fox & Friends, stating, “I’m not surprised. It’s an agenda that many people in Maine disagree with, especially regarding biological males in girls’ sports and the emphasis on diversity and emotional learning.”
Maine, alongside Governor Janet Mills, has had ongoing disputes with the Trump administration since February when the state became one of the initial ones to openly reject Trump’s executive order aimed at “protecting men from women’s sports.” This tension escalated following a trans athlete’s victory in a women’s pole vault competition, culminating in a contentious interaction between Trump and Mills during a governor’s meeting at the White House on February 21.
The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against Mills and the state over Title IX violations, with a trial scheduled for January 2026.
Surveys conducted by the American Parents Union indicated that out of approximately 600 registered Maine voters, 63% believed school sports participation should be determined by biological sex, while 66% felt it was fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women. Moreover, 60% of respondents supported a measure that limits participation in women’s and girls’ sports to biological females, including 64% of parents with children below 18.
