President Donald Trump’s Department of Agriculture (USDA) froze federal funding in Maine on Wednesday after Democrat Janet Mills declined to comply with regulations regarding transgender-identifying boys in women’s sports.
The USDA halted fund distribution after sending several requests to Mills, urging adherence to President Trump’s executive order prohibiting men from participating in women’s sports teams in relation to Title IX. Reportedly.
In a correspondence to Mills, Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins stated that federal funding to the state has been suspended “for specific administrative and technical functions of the school.”
Watch – President Trump signs executive order banning men from women’s sports:
“We cannot blatantly violate federal laws against educational discrimination, and we cannot anticipate federal funds to persist indefinitely,” Rollins stated in a letter. As noted, “Your rebellion against federal law comes at the cost binding your state under Title IX of Educational Program Access. Today, I’ve frozen Maine’s federal funds for specific administrative and technical functions in education.”
According to the report, Rollins indicated which program funds have been suspended or what amount is currently frozen, with the freeze lifting promptly upon compliance with federal law.
“This is merely the start, but we cannot freely move to conclusion without prioritizing women and girls according to federal law,” Rollins writes.
Rollins noted that the USDA is also reviewing all education-related funding in Maine to ensure alignment with the Constitution, federal regulations, and the Trump administration’s policies.
“To obtain taxpayer revenue from the USDA, Maine must show adherence to the protections of female student-athletes under Title IX, especially regarding competition before men,” the letter states.
“The USDA will continue to alongside other federal agencies suspend action, and if necessary, cease the Educational Programming category for Maine if these Title IX infringements are not resolved to federal standards,” she added. This suspension will not impact the federal nutrition program or direct assistance for Maine. If children are fed today, they will continue to be fed tomorrow.
The USDA has also initiated a comprehensive review of grants from the Biden administration to the Maine Department of Education. “Many of these grants are ineffective, repetitive, or misaligned with the Trump administration’s goals,” Rollins stated.
“The USDA will not prolong the overgrown bureaucracy of the Biden administration, instead concentrating on sectors beneficial to farmers and steering clear of social agendas,” Rollins stated.
President Trump’s executive order:Keep men out of women’s sports was established to safeguard female student athletes from being “exposed or uncontested in front of men.” Additionally, federal departments must “evaluate grants for educational initiatives and, when necessary, withdraw funding for programs that do not comply with the outlined policies of this order.”
Maine officials, following Trump’s directive, stated they will not monitor the participation of men, women, and girls who identify as transgender, referencing state laws that permit students to compete on teams aligned with their “gender identity.”
Subsequently, a boy identifying as transgender claimed victory in the Maine Class B championship for the Greeley High School track and field team in February.
During a Republican Governors Association dinner, President Trump and Governor Mills reiterated that Maine risks losing federal funding if it continues permitting men on women’s sports teams.
“We abide by federal law. If you do not comply, federal funding will be denied, so make sure to implement changes…your constituents also oppose men competing in women’s sports,” Trump asserted. “You will ensure compliance, or you forfeit federal support.
“We’ll see you in court,” Mills responded.
“Wonderful. We’ll see you in court. That’s a straightforward path,” Trump shot back. “Enjoy life after your governorship, I don’t think you’ll retain an elected position.”
Mills and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey have it. Promised to challenge Trump.
Related: Boy triumphs in high school pole vault event in Maine after defiance of Trump’s directive
Following this, both the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) disclosed a state survey and ultimately determined that the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) and associated entities are in violation of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded educational programs and activities.
Watch – President Trump: Allowing women to compete with trans athletes is “demeaning to women.”
On Monday, the DOE issued a letter urging the MDOE to align with President Trump’s executive order by April 11, asserting that it rewrites federal Title IX regulations to deny federal funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to participate as females.
“The Maine Department of Education’s negligence toward past, present, and future female athletes is shocking. By refusing to comply with Title IX, MDOE endangers the safety of female athletes.
read more: University of Maine agrees to exclude men from women’s sports after suspension of Trump administration funds
“Under the previous administration, enforcement was a significant undertaking. No longer. The Trump McMahon Education Division is rapidly moving to halt support for obvious illegal practices that are detrimental to women and girls,” he noted.
Maine authorities have continually claimed that their adherence to state law, namely Maine’s human rights law, supersedes federal law. The Maine Human Rights Act includes protections for “gender identity.” The main Republicans aim to remove it as debates around transgender athlete participation continue.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on x @thekat_hamilton.
