The Trump administration on Monday announced that it had determined Maine’s educational authorities are in violation of federal law prohibiting sex discrimination, after allowing transgender girls to participate in school sports.
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, issued last month, that mandates the exclusion of transgender girls and women from female-only sports—a directive aimed at restoring fairness, though critics argue it infringes on the rights of a minority of athletes.
The order directs the Department of Justice to ensure that all government agencies enforce a ban on transgender participation in female sports under Trump’s interpretation of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement saying it has given the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals' Association, and Greely High School in Cumberland a 10‑day window to resolve the alleged violation, or the matter will be referred to the Department of Justice.
Maine emerged as a focal point of the controversy after a transgender athlete from Greely High School won a state championship in girls’ pole-vaulting, sparking debate over the state’s sports policies. The issue intensified in February when President Trump clashed with Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills. Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from the state over its policy on transgender participation in school sports, prompting Mills to retort, “We're going to follow the law, sir. We'll see you in court.”
The situation is further complicated by a 2021 update to Maine state law, which explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Despite this legislative action, the Trump administration’s stance reflects its broader efforts to enforce policies designed to restrict transgender participation in female sports.
As the 10‑day deadline approaches, Maine’s educational authorities now face mounting pressure to either amend their policies or risk federal intervention, a development that could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing debate over transgender rights in educational settings.
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