Trump Administration Intensifies Stance Against Maine Over Transgender Athlete Policy
The conflict between the Trump administration and the state of Maine is escalating over the issue of transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports. Maine has been under increasing scrutiny for its policies that allow transgender athletes to compete on teams aligning with their gender identity, a stance that directly clashes with President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office of Civil Rights (OCR), has officially declared the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals Association (MPA), and Greely High School in violation of Title IX. This declaration stems from their continued support of transgender inclusion in girls’ sports. Anthony Archeval, acting director of the OCR, issued a stern warning, indicating potential consequences for Maine’s continued defiance of the executive order.
"What HHS is asking of the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) and Greely High School is simple—protect female athletes’ rights," Archeval stated. "Girls deserve girls-only sports without male competitors. And if Maine won’t come to the table to voluntarily comply with Title IX, HHS will enforce Title IX to the fullest extent permitted by the law."
Following the initial announcement of the Title IX violation, HHS gave Maine a 10-day ultimatum to rectify its policies through a signed agreement. Failure to comply would lead to a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for further action.
The Trump administration has followed through on its threats to withhold federal funding in response to non-compliance with the executive order. The University of Pennsylvania experienced a pause in $175 million of federal funding due to its past inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Although a temporary pause was placed on Department of Agriculture funding to the Maine University System, the funding has since been reinstated.
The Maine Principals Association responded to the Trump administration’s declaration, defending its policy as a direct result of the Maine Human Rights Act, which mandates that athletes be allowed to participate on teams aligning with their gender identity. The MPA argued that its policy is consistent with Maine state law.
The MPA further contended that HHS lacks Title IX jurisdiction over the organization. The MPA receives a small portion of its funding from 151 member schools, which primarily receive funding from local property taxes and the state. The majority of the MPA’s funding comes from ticket sales, sponsorships, streaming, television, and other contracts.
The controversy gained momentum after state lawmaker Laurel Libby highlighted a case where a biological male won a girls’ pole vault competition for Greely High School in early February. This incident fueled the debate and prompted Trump to vow to cut funding to Maine for its refusal to adhere to his order.
Maine Governor Janet Mills’ office issued a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it withheld federal funding from the state. Trump and Mills engaged in a public argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors. Shortly after this interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Maine’s policies on transgender athletes and potential Title IX violations.
Libby has faced consequences for her initial social media post, including censure by the state legislature. She has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the censure. The controversy has also sparked protests, including a "March Against Mills" outside Maine’s State House on March 1.
The battle between the Trump administration and Maine underscores the deep divisions surrounding the issue of transgender athletes in sports. While the administration emphasizes the need to protect the rights of female athletes and ensure fair competition, Maine defends its policies as consistent with its state’s human rights laws and principles of inclusivity. The escalating conflict is likely to continue as HHS moves to enforce Title IX and Maine resists federal intervention in its state policies.
