The U.S. Department of Agriculture paused funding for certain Maine educational programs on Wednesday, citing the state’s noncompliance with Title IX over its student sports participation rules.
The decision is consistent with President Donald Trump’s effort to enforce federal restrictions on who can compete in female sports, targeting programs that don’t reflect his administration’s stance
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins notified Maine Gov. Janet Mills in a letter, suspending support for unspecified school administrative and technological functions. The agency also launched a review of Maine Department of Education grants awarded under the Biden administration, labeling them “wasteful” and inconsistent with Trump’s priorities. Rollins assured that food programs and direct resident aid remain untouched, stating, “If a child was fed today, they will be fed tomorrow.”
The funding freeze targets operational aspects of Maine’s educational system, such as staff support, data management, and technological resources, though exact programs remain undisclosed. For instance, it could affect USDA-backed initiatives like agricultural education or rural development projects tied to the Maine Department of Education.
In fiscal year 2024, the state received $29.78 million from USDA for research and extension activities benefiting farmers and youth, including 4-H programs and agricultural training. These funds, often funneled through schools, support administrative roles and infrastructure—areas now at risk.
However, the pause explicitly spares food safety and nutrition programs, such as school lunches or Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) oversight of meat, poultry and eggs, which fall under separate USDA mandates. This ensures no disruption to food safety inspections or feeding initiatives like the National School Lunch Program, which served 62,000 Maine students in 2024.
Legal battle looms as Maine defends policy
The dispute ignited in February when Trump, during a White House meeting, pressed Mills to adopt his executive order limiting female sports to those assigned female at birth. “Do it, or you’re not getting federal funding,” Trump warned.
Mills countered, “See you in court,” defending Maine’s policy under the Maine Human Rights Act, which allows sports participation based on gender identity—a position Trump’s administration says violates Title IX’s protections for female athletes.
The USDA’s move mirrors actions by other federal agencies. The U.S. Department of Education issued a “final warning” on April 1, and the Department of Health and Human Services referred Maine’s case to the Justice Department. Rollins suggested further cuts could follow if Maine remains noncompliant, though the amount withheld so far remains undisclosed.
In March, the USDA withheld $63 million from the University of Maine System over similar Title IX concerns but restored it after the system adopted NCAA rules aligning with federal standards. This broader freeze escalates the conflict to state-level programs, potentially impacting rural schools reliant on USDA grants for operational stability.
Mills has vowed legal resistance, arguing Trump’s order clashes with state law. Trump’s administration contends Maine’s rules undermine fairness in female sports, a view driving federal probes since February. The USDA insists taxpayer money won’t fund noncompliance, targeting what Rollins called “bloated bureaucracy” from prior administrations.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, branded the freeze “vindictive,” citing its potential to strain educational resources. Maine officials have not yet responded to Wednesday’s action.
While the pause affects certain administrative functions, food safety and nutrition programs remain unaffected. The ongoing review may clarify which grants face termination, but for now, Maine’s schools brace for operational challenges without risking student meals or public health safeguards.
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