USDA Launches Compliance Review of Maine After Funding Threat Over Transgender Sports Policy

Maine's transgender athlete policy, which allows students to participate in sports according to their gender identity without medical documentation, is facing significant backlash amid threats from President Trump to withhold federal funding. Governor Janet Mills has staunchly defended the policy, even as it risks $250 million in federal funding for schools, arguing that it reflects constitutional boundaries and the importance of state autonomy. Following a heated exchange between Mills and Trump at a White House meeting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an investigation into the University of Maine's compliance with Title IX, citing a disregard for Trump's executive order barring transgender participation in women's sports. Trump reiterated that any institution that defies the order could lose federal support, while Mills has signaled her intent to challenge the order legally. The situation highlights broader national debates surrounding rights, governance, and the limits of presidential power. The outcome of these investigations and legal challenges could have lasting implications for similar policies across the country.