Former President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to Maine if the state continues to permit transgender athletes to participate in girls' and women's sports, contradicting his previous executive order. During a meeting with Republican governors, Trump expressed his disapproval of Maine's stance, stating that he couldn't fathom their decision and would withhold all federal funds until they reversed their policy.
Trump's executive order, signed in February 2025, directed federal agencies to review grants and programs that didn't align with his administration's objective of preventing "male competitive participation in women’s sports." The order cited safety, fairness, dignity, and truth as the basis for this directive and mandated strict Title IX enforcement, including the withdrawal of federal aid from non-compliant institutions.
The executive order criticized policies that either lacked a stance on transgender athletes or allowed participation based on reduced testosterone levels or self-declared gender identity, deeming them unfair and unsafe for female athletes. Several states, including Maine, challenged the order, asserting their intention to continue allowing transgender athletes to compete based on their stated gender identity.
Maine's high school sports governing body, the Maine Principals' Association (MPA), affirmed its commitment to upholding state human rights law, which conflicts with Trump's executive order. Executive Director Mike Burnham stated that the MPA would prioritize state law in determining athlete eligibility, regardless of the federal directive.
The U.S. Department of Education, under the Trump administration, initiated Title IX investigations into athletic associations in Minnesota and California for their non-compliance with the executive order. The department emphasized that state laws do not supersede federal anti-discrimination laws, justifying their investigations.
Despite resistance from some states, others, like Wisconsin, have aligned with Trump's order, revising their policies to restrict participation in girls' sports to athletes assigned female at birth.
