The Department of Education has taken a significant step by referring its investigation into Maine’s alleged Title IX violations to the Department of Justice. This decision comes just weeks after a heated discussion between President Donald Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor stated that the Department of Education has given Maine ample chances to comply with Title IX. He accused state leaders of prioritizing an "extremist ideological agenda" over the safety and dignity of students. As a result, Maine will now face legal challenges from the Department of Justice and must defend its policies in court.
The Education Department is also considering restricting federal funds to Maine’s Department of Education. This investigation has focused on Maine’s policies that allow transgender-identifying athletes to compete in female sports, which the Trump administration argues violate Title IX’s rules against gender discrimination.
Maine officials have resisted signing a resolution agreement with the federal government. In response, Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster argued that Title IX does not prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ sports teams. She pointed out that other federal courts have supported this view.
In a related development, a federal judge temporarily blocked a funding freeze that had already started for Maine from the Department of Agriculture, restoring some of the lost funds.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has expressed her support for the Trump administration’s stance. She emphasized the need for respect and dignity for transgender individuals but also highlighted that Title IX was designed to ensure equal access to sports based on sex, not gender identity. Collins urged Governor Mills to reconsider her position while advocating for continued federal funding for the state.