Maine Governor Defies Trump’s Order on Transgender Athletes, Prepares for Legal Battle
Maine Governor Janet Mills has made it clear that she will not back down from President Donald Trump’s demand to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Trump has warned that if Maine refuses to follow his executive order, the state could lose federal education funding.
The disagreement came to light during a White House meeting with Republican governors. Trump specifically called out Mills, questioning whether Maine would comply with his directive.
Heated Exchange at the White House
During the meeting, Trump addressed Mills directly. “Is Maine here? The governor of Maine?” he asked. Then, without hesitation, he challenged her stance. “Are you not going to comply with it?”
Mills responded firmly, saying, “I’m going to comply with state and federal laws.”
Trump quickly countered, “Well, we are the federal law. You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
The discussion escalated as Trump repeated his warning. Mills, standing her ground, responded, “We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court.”
Unfazed, Trump replied, “Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one.” Then, in a parting remark, he added, “And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
Maine Won’t Be Intimidated
After the meeting, Mills released a statement making it clear that Maine would not be pressured by Trump’s threats. She emphasized that if the president tried to take away federal funding from Maine’s schools, her administration, along with the attorney general, would take legal action to protect the funding and the educational opportunities it provides.
The Maine Principals’ Association has already declared that it will not enforce Trump’s executive order. Instead, it will follow the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.
Federal Investigation Launched
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced on Friday that it was launching a Title IX investigation into Maine’s policies regarding transgender athletes. According to the department, state laws cannot override federal anti-discrimination protections.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department, stated, “Maine would have you believe that it has no choice in how it treats women and girls in athletics — that is, that it must follow its state laws and allow male athletes to compete against women and girls. Let me be clear: If Maine wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Education Department, it has to follow Title IX.”
Impact of Federal Education Funding
Federal funding plays a small but significant role in Maine’s education system. Most of the state’s education budget comes from local and state sources, such as property taxes. However, federal contributions still make up about 8% of total education funding.
In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Maine received over $360 million in federal funds for elementary and secondary education. This represented approximately 10% of the state’s total education budget, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These funds also support programs like the Department of Agriculture’s school lunch program and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Head Start initiative.
A Legal Battle Ahead
As the conflict escalates, both sides appear ready for a legal fight. Mills remains determined to uphold Maine’s anti-discrimination laws, while Trump insists that his executive order must be followed. With a court battle looming, the outcome will likely shape the future of transgender athletes’ rights in school sports.
