On Wednesday, the USDA announced it had halted federal funding for multiple education programs in Maine due to the state’s unwillingness to prohibit transgender students from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, as mandated by President Trump and his administration.
Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins declared that funding allocated to Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) will be paused “due to specific management and technical functionalities of the school.” Refer to the letter
A spokesperson from the department did not respond to email inquiries regarding details of the suspended programs. The funding freeze will not impact federal meal programs or direct assistance. According to the press release.
The USDA is also reviewing state research and education funds “for compliance with the Constitution,” as well as adherence to federal laws and “priorities of the Trump administration,” Rollins indicated. She specifically mentioned Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination, and Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race and ethnicity.
The Trump administration has referenced laws concerning transgender rights and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives. Trump’s executive order aims to prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports and to limit DEI initiatives within federal agencies and grant allocations. Another order seeks to halt what the Trump administration terms critical race theory education. This academic approach examines U.S. history through racism’s influence and has become a politically charged term regarding education surrounding race, gender, and sexuality.
Maine officials, including Mills and state Attorney General Aaron Frey, D., have stated that Trump’s directives for transgender athletes conflict with the state’s human rights legislation. Nonetheless, the Trump administration maintains that compliance with federal law (Title IX) is necessary, allowing transgender girls to compete, which could disadvantage non-trans girls.
“When there is a conflict between state and federal law, state entities must adhere to federal law,” Attorney General Pam Bondy (R) communicated in February to Mills and officials in California and Minnesota.
“We cannot knowingly breach federal legislation against discrimination in education and expect federal funding to remain unaffected,” Rollins expressed in a letter to Mills on Wednesday. “The adherence to federal law is based on compliance with Title IX of Educational Programming.”
She remarked, “This is merely the beginning, but you always have the option to conclude by safeguarding women and girls in alignment with federal regulations.”
A spokesperson for Mills did not respond immediately to a request for comments.
Rollins stated that the USDA has initiated a “comprehensive review” of grants issued by the Biden administration to Maine’s Department of Education, alleging “waste, redundancy, or other factors inconsistent with the Trump administration’s priorities.”
“The USDA will not extend the Biden administration’s expansive bureaucracy, but will prioritize farmers first and avoid leftist social agendas,” she mentioned.
It remains unclear to which matters Rollins’ letter refers. The department spokesperson did not provide clarification.
The USDA funding freeze marks the latest episode in an ongoing dispute between Mills and Trump regarding the state’s adherence to Trump’s executive order concerning transgender athletes.
Last month, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services determined that Maine was in violation of Title IX following an investigation previously labeled “Political Directives.” The Education Department issued what was termed a “final warning” to Maine’s state Department of Education prior to transferring the investigation to the Department of Justice on Monday.
