Washington, D.C., April 15, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has initiated the termination of Maine’s federal K-12 education funding, citing the state’s noncompliance with Title IX for allowing transgender girls to compete in women’s sports. Announced on April 14, the decision follows a March 19 noncompliance finding and a final warning letter on March 31, with the DOE also referring the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further enforcement.
The controversy stems from President Trump’s February 5 Executive Order, “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” which interprets Title IX to bar transgender girls from female sports, prioritizing safety and fairness for cisgender female athletes. Maine’s Department of Education (MDOE), alongside the Maine Principals’ Association and Greely High School, was found in violation after a February 21 DOE investigation. The proposed resolution demanded Maine ban transgender girls from female sports and facilities, revoke their awards, and issue apologies to cisgender athletes—terms Maine rejected on April 11, prompting the funding cut process.
Maine argues its policy aligns with federal law, citing the 2024 B.P.J. v. West Va. State Bd. of Ed. ruling supporting transgender inclusion and the state’s Human Rights Act, which protects against gender identity discrimination. The state received $283 million in federal K-12 funding in 2024, vital for programs aiding disabled and low-income students, now at risk as the DOE moves forward with termination.
Public reaction on X is divided. Some users support the DOE, arguing it protects women’s sports, while others call it discriminatory, noting only two transgender girls are competing in Maine this year. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on April 11, blocking the USDA from cutting school lunch funding over the same issue, but the DOE’s broader action persists.
As of April 15, Maine faces a legal battle with the DOJ, with significant implications for its education system and transgender rights. The state’s refusal to comply with the executive order highlights a broader clash between federal policy and state laws on gender identity, leaving the future of Maine’s federal funding—and its transgender students—in limbo as the dispute unfolds.
