## Maine Governor Defends Transgender Policies Amid Funding Dispute
Maine Governor Janet Mills has strongly rebuked the previous Trump administration’s attempts to leverage federal funding in response to the state’s policies regarding transgender athletes participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Mills characterized the situation as “appalling” and defended Maine’s commitment to inclusivity.
The conflict arose from President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting participation in female athletics based on biological sex. Maine refused to comply with this order, prompting a series of actions from various departments within the former administration.
“The chief executive is required by the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed—not to make the laws, not to invent them or reinterpret them through tweets, press releases, or executive orders,” Mills stated. “I support Title IX, and I’ve dedicated my career to protecting women and girls’ rights. To see his administration attempt to redefine it is deeply troubling.”
The state received letters from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of Health and Human Services, with one letter from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins described by Mills as a “ransom note.” These communications threatened to withhold federal funding due to Maine’s allowance of transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
The administration took swift action, threatening to halt the state’s school nutrition program – which provides meals for approximately 172,000 Maine schoolchildren. Mills questioned the rationality of this move, noting that only a handful of transgender students participate in these programs.
A federal judge intervened, issuing a temporary restraining order requiring the USDA to reinstate funding. Attorney General Aaron Frey welcomed the decision:
“This temporary restraining order confirms the Trump Administration did not follow the rule of law when it cut program funds that go to feed school children and vulnerable adults. This order preserves Maine’s access to certain congressionally appropriated funds by prohibiting an unlawful freeze.”
Judge John Woodcock’s ruling explicitly stated:
- The USDA must immediately unfreeze all previously frozen federal funding.
- The administration is barred from interfering with future state funding without adhering to required legal procedures.
Maine’s stance has been met with mixed public opinion. A recent poll revealed:
- 64% of Maine residents believe transgender athletes “definitely should not” or “probably should not” participate in girls’ and women’s sports.
- 29% believed that transgender athletes “probably should” or “definitely should” compete against girls and women.
- Among Maine Democrats, 56% support allowing transgender athletes to compete.
The poll also indicated a split on policy-making authority: 50% of residents favored federal legislation, while 41% believed the decision should be left to individual states.
This situation mirrors a broader trend where several states face potential funding cuts if they fail to comply with policies regarding transgender individuals—including issues surrounding prisoner housing based on biological sex. Maine remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting both Title IX and the well-being of its citizens, regardless of their gender identity.
