The Maine continues the Trump administration on the freeze after the dispute on transgender athletes

By Patrick Whittle

Scarborough, Maine (AP) – Maine officials continued the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday to try to prevent the government from freezing federal money following a dispute over transgender athletes in sports.

Trump and Maine, who are controlled by Democrats, are in the middle of a one-week dispute concerning the anti-discrimination law of title IX and the participation of transgender students in high school sports. US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said earlier this month that the US Department of Agriculture interrupted certain funds for Maine’s educational programs because of what it described as the non-compliance with Maine to comply with the IX law.

The Maine Attorney General, Aaron Frey, filed a complaint on Monday before the Federal Court which described the break as “to illegally retain subsidy funds that go to children’s maintenance”. The trial requires a temporary prohibition order preventing the USDA from retaining money until a court can hear the case.

In a statement, said Frey, the president and his cabinet “the secretaries do not make the law and that they are not above the law, and this action is necessary to remind the president that Maine will not be intimidated to violate the law.”

The children’s nutrition program from the Maine Ministry of Education is unable to access several sources of financing for the moment due to the financing break, said Frey. Money is used to nourish children in schools, childcare services and programs after school and is also used to benefit from disabled adults, he said.

The trial indicates that the children’s nutrition program received or should receive more than $ 1.8 million for the current financial year. The previous funds which have been awarded but which are currently inaccessible total more than $ 900,000, indicates the trial. The trial also indicates that the program provided approximately 3 million dollars, which is generally awarded every July for the program of summer meals sponsors and the reimbursement of meals.

USDA officials have not returned a request for comments.

Rollins declared in a letter to the governor of Maine Janet Mills on April 2 that the State “could not openly violate federal law against discrimination in education and expect federal funding to continue relentlessly”. The letter indicates that the financing break did not have an impact on federal food programs.

“In order to continue to receive dollars from the USDA taxpayers, the state of Maine must demonstrate compliance with the protection of the title IX of the athlete students to have to compete with or against or have to appear without holding before men,” said the letter from Rollins.

Tensions between Maine and Trump administration have simmered since February, when Trump has threatened to withdraw funding from Maine if the state does not comply with its executive order prohibiting transgender sports athletes. Mills, who was present at the White House for a meeting of the governors, told the president: “We will see you in court.”

The Trump administration has promised to cancel more federal funding if Maine does not prohibit the transgender athletes of sports participation soon.

Originally published: April 7, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.