A judge in U.S. District Court has instructed the Trump administration to release Agriculture Department aid to Maine in order to adhere to laws prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. The ruling from District Court Judge John Woodcock followed a case brought by Maine against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Agriculture Department has been requested for comment on the matter.
The frozen federal funds were intended for certain administrative and technological functions within Maine’s schools. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins cited a disagreement between the state and federal governments regarding compliance with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination in education based on sex. As a result, Maine’s Department of Education faced difficulties accessing federal funds for a state nutrition program.
The conflict between Maine and the Trump administration traces back to the president’s efforts to withhold federal funding from the state over transgender athletes. This disagreement was highlighted during a meeting at the White House, where the president discussed an executive order related to transgender athletes with Gov. Janet Mills. The governor affirmed her commitment to complying with both state and federal laws, prompting a warning from Trump about potential funding repercussions.
Judge Woodcock clarified that his ruling did not directly address the broader dispute surrounding the impasse between the two parties. The court’s decision coincided with Maine officials announcing their refusal to comply with a ban on transgender athletes in high school sports, following a finding by the Trump administration that Maine had violated antidiscrimination laws by allowing transgender students to participate on gender-specific teams as per Title IX.
