President Trump makes good on his promise to strip federal funding from Maine schools after Governor Janet Mills openly defied his executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Key Takeaways
- The USDA has suspended $30 million in funding to eight public colleges in Maine’s university system due to potential Title IX violations
- The funding cut follows a public clash between President Trump and Governor Janet Mills, who threatened legal action rather than compliance
- Republican State Representative Laurel Libby has been censured by Maine Democrats for her stance supporting the ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports
- Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department is prepared to “leverage every legal option” to enforce the executive order
- The suspended funding impacts critical programs including 4-H, agricultural research, and Maine’s lobster industry sustainability efforts
Trump Administration Cuts University Funding In Battle Over Transgender Sports
The Biden-era progressive policies allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports are rapidly being dismantled as the Trump administration takes decisive action against non-compliant states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended $30 million in funding for research and programs at the University of Maine System following the state’s refusal to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports. This decisive move affects eight public colleges and represents the first major enforcement action since President Trump’s executive order protecting women’s sports was issued.
The funding suspension came after USDA Chief Financial Officer Scott Soles ordered all payments paused while the department evaluates potential civil rights violations at the university. The university claims its athletic programs comply with state and federal laws and NCAA policies regarding transgender athletes, but the Justice Department has already issued a notice of violation against the Maine Department of Education for Title IX violations, indicating serious compliance issues.
Governor Mills’ Defiance Triggers Federal Response
The confrontation between President Trump and Democratic Governor Janet Mills began during a heated exchange at the White House when Trump warned Mills about the consequences of non-compliance. The clash highlighted the administration’s determination to enforce protection for women’s sports and Mills’ equally determined resistance. Instead of working with federal officials to address concerns about fairness in women’s athletics, Mills challenged the president directly, setting up what appears to be an inevitable court battle.
“You better do it because you’re not going to get federal funding,” Trump warned Mills, as he addressed governors during a meeting at the State Dining Room in the White House. – Source
Trump didn’t mince words about the political consequences of Mills’ stance, telling her to “enjoy your life after governor” and predicting the end of her political career. The funding suspension impacts crucial programs at the university, including 4-H youth development, pest management training for farmers, and vital research on Maine’s lobster industry sustainability—all now jeopardized by the governor’s refusal to protect women’s sports.
Political Fallout Intensifies as State Representative Faces Censure
The transgender sports controversy has created political shockwaves beyond the governor’s office. Republican State Representative Laurel Libby has been censured by Maine’s Democrat-controlled legislature over a Facebook post related to the transgender debate. In a stunning display of partisan suppression, Libby has been barred from voting or speaking on the floor until she apologizes—effectively silencing elected opposition to the state’s transgender policies.
“[B]ullies are pretty predictable. And so, as anticipated, [Maine House] Speaker Ryan Fecteau and the Democrat majority did censure me. And they have declared that I cannot vote or speak on the floor until I apologize. But if there’s one thing that I know about bullies, is you don’t back down. And so, I have no intention of backing down from this fight and will continue to speak up for Maine girls.” – Source
Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear that the Justice Department stands firmly behind the president’s executive order, emphasizing their commitment to enforcing federal law and protecting women’s sports. This firm stance signals that the administration is prepared to take similar actions against other non-compliant states, potentially affecting billions in federal education funding nationwide if states continue to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.
Sources:
- USDA suspends Maine university funding after Trump row over transgender athletes
- Trump Stops Funding to Maine Schools As State Refuses to Comply With Executive Order
