President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in female sports has led to a widening legal standoff between the federal government and the state of Maine. The dispute escalated in April when the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Maine, accusing the state of violating federal anti-discrimination law by allowing transgender athletes to compete on girls’ teams in public schools.
The suit follows weeks of growing tension between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, who has resisted federal pressure to enforce the executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Signed on February 5, 2025, the directive reinterprets Title IX to prohibit participation by transgender females in girls’ sports and calls for withholding federal education funds from noncompliant states and institutions.
During a White House meeting with governors on February 21, Trump embarrassed Mills when he asked her if she would comply with the executive order. Mills replied she would follow state and federal laws, prompting Trump to warn her that Maine could lose federal funding. When Mills responded, “See you in court,” Trump shot back, “Good. I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that.”
The confrontation has turned into a full legal clash. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into the Maine Department of Education after a Republican lawmaker named a transgender high school athlete who won a girls’ championship event. Officials allege that at least one male student was allowed to compete in a girls’ category, contrary to federal directives. Similar investigations have been launched in Minnesota and California.
Maine law, however, explicitly protects transgender students. The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, and schools in the state follow policies allowing students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. Mills said her administration “will vigorously defend the rights of all Maine students” and would not be “bullied into violating the law.”
Attorney General Aaron Frey has filed a separate lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for halting funds to Maine’s child nutrition program. Frey argues the federal government is unlawfully withholding grant money, affecting low-income students who rely on the meals. The state contends that freezing the funds is a political maneuver designed to force compliance with a controversial federal order.
“We will not allow the federal government to use hungry children as leverage,” Frey said in a statement. He added that the dispute is ultimately about defending state laws and ensuring children in Maine continue to have access to education and meals regardless of federal political agendas.
The Trump administration maintains that its executive order is necessary to ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports. The order instructs federal agencies to pursue enforcement against institutions that allow transgender athletes in girls’ competitions and to revoke funding accordingly. The administration claims Maine’s policies violate Title IX and unfairly disadvantage cisgender female athletes.
The broader legal landscape is complex. Courts have issued mixed rulings on similar bans across the country. A federal appeals court ruled that excluding transgender athletes may violate Title IX, while other courts, particularly in the South, have upheld restrictions. The First Circuit, which includes Maine, has not yet issued a binding decision on the issue, and legal experts believe the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately decide whether Title IX protections extend to transgender student-athletes.
The case in Maine is among several legal challenges to the February executive order. In New Hampshire, two transgender high school students filed a lawsuit alleging the directive violates their constitutional rights and existing Title IX protections. Elsewhere, cities like Worcester, Massachusetts, have declared themselves sanctuary jurisdictions for transgender individuals, stating they will not enforce the federal ban.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has revised its own policy in response to the executive order. The organization now requires that athletes in women’s sports be assigned female at birth but has stopped short of an outright ban on transgender participation. Under the new policy, athletes must undergo hormone testing, though these regulations are still under review and have drawn criticism from advocacy groups.
Despite federal pressure, Maine schools have continued to follow state law. The Maine Principals’ Association has declined to change its policy, stating that banning transgender girls from girls’ teams would violate existing anti-discrimination statutes. State officials have also said the loss of federal funds, which make up about 10% of Maine’s education budget, would hurt students more than it would resolve any legal disputes over sports eligibility.
The dispute between the Trump administration and the state of Maine remains unresolved as the cases proceed through the courts. Federal agencies continue to investigate, and the Department of Justice is seeking an injunction to force the state to align its laws with federal guidance on Title IX. The outcome of this case could affect how gender identity is treated under civil rights law nationwide.
