Maine Faces Federal Funding Withholding Over Title IX Noncompliance
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Friday it will withdraw federal funding from Maine due to the state’s refusal to sign a Title IX resolution agreement that prohibits transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. This significant action follows Maine’s notification to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) that they would not comply with the agreement.
Details of Noncompliance
Maine officials communicated their decision in a letter addressed to the OCR, which stated that the Maine Department of Education and the Office of the Attorney General will not endorse the resolution agreement. Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster emphasized that “nothing in Title IX or its implementing regulations prohibits schools from allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls’ and women’s sports teams.” Furthermore, she pointed out that several federal courts support the inclusion of transgender individuals in sports, aligning with the principles of the Equal Protection Clause.
Previous Findings by Federal Authorities
Recent findings by federal officials indicated that the Maine Department of Education was in violation of a previous executive order issued by President Donald Trump which bans transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. This order has been a matter of contention across various states, with differing legal interpretations regarding Title IX.
Pursuit of Consequences
The Department of Education stated it would now “initiate an administrative proceeding to adjudicate termination of MDOE’s federal K-12 education funding,” which encompasses both formula grants and discretionary grants. Additionally, the situation will be forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further enforcement measures.
Statements from the Department of Education
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor expressed disappointment over Maine’s resistance to comply with Title IX, asserting, “The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity.” Trainor further stated that Maine will be required to justify its stance before an administrative law judge and potentially in federal court.
The Governor’s Response
Maine’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills, reacted to the impending legal confrontation, acknowledging that her previous comments during a White House event with a bipartisan group of governors in February hinted at the possibility of a legal challenge. Mills previously asserted her commitment to comply with state and federal law while highlighting her administration’s intent to protect Maine students from loss of federal funding.
A Historic Dispute
The ongoing saga reached a notable moment when, during a White House event, President Trump directly questioned Mills about her compliance with the executive order, to which she responded with her intention to uphold state regulations. Trump retorted by warning her of potential repercussions on federal funding, to which Mills defiantly replied, “See you in court.”
The Implications of Compliance
This case underscores a critical clash between federal mandates and state rights, particularly regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in school sports. As the situation develops, both sides prepare for a legal battle that could set significant precedents for Title IX enforcement and the rights of transgender students across the nation.
Contributions to this report were made by ABC News’ Hannah Demissie, Alexandra Hutzler, and Jack Moore.