The USDA announced Tuesday that it has temporarily suspended funding for the University of Maine system. This is a move that came after President Trump and the state governor invaded transgender rights, with the president threatening to block federal funds to the state.
The University of Maine said Tuesday that the USDA's chief financial officer had received a forwarded email chain that ordered the awarding agency and staff office to not issue temporary payments and not allow the release of other funds to the Columbia University or the University of Maine system.
“This pause is inherently temporary, but the USDA will assess whether subsequent actions should be taken in relation to future Title VI or Title IX violations. Take the necessary actions from leadership to realize this direction. The email continued.
In 2024, USDA gave the University of Maine nearly $30 million towards agricultural research, development programs for youth and farmers support.
The department said the suspension exceeded any suspicious concerns regarding Title VI or Title IX, but the school said the government had not named the specific complaints and administrators responded promptly to the investigation.
“We are keen to the USDA's decision to suspend funding for the University of Maine system. This will hurt farmers, halt critical research and affect students in Maine.” I said it on social media. “Once again, our state is being targeted for retaliation, as our officials are standing up for the rule of law.”
Last month, Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) stepped back and forth at the White House on his policies regarding transgender athletes.
Through executive action, Trump tried to prohibit trans women and girls from joining sports teams that match their gender identity, but several states, including Maine, have retreated.
“I'm complying with state and federal laws,” Mills told Trump after asking if the governor would comply with executive orders.
“We're federal law. You're not going to get federal funds, so you're better off doing that,” Trump said.
“See you in court,” replied Mills.
The University of Maine System (UMS) said USDA inquiries are “not specific to UMS University,” but it “focuses primarily” on its policy on transgender athletes.
The university said it complies with state and federal laws along with the requirements of the NCAA, and the administrator recently pointed out that it had banned transgender athletes.
A statement from the University of Maine said Columbia University was also affected by the funding cuts.
New York Ivy League schools are already targeted by the Trump administration. The Trump administration says it failed to protect students from anti-Semitism in handling pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year.
Department of Justice Task Force to Fight Anti-Semitism on Friday It announced a cancellation of about $400 million in federal grants to Columbia, warning that more cuts are likely to continue.
On Saturday, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Colombia. Detention of Halil, an immigrant in a country that has not been legally officially charged with a crime, is the first known example of the Trump administration seeking to deport student activists against protests.
Oka reached out to USDA and Colombia for further comment.
