Maine Faces Federal Deadline Over Transgender Athlete Policy

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a final warning to Maine, threatening legal action and funding cuts if the state does not comply with a federal executive order banning transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports by April 11.

The U.S. Department of Education sent Maine a final warning letter on March 31, giving the state until April 11 to align its policies with President Trump's executive order prohibiting transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports.
Maine has refused to comply, citing state law and the Maine Human Rights Act, which protects gender identity as a class and allows transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identity.
The Trump administration has threatened to withhold over $280 million in federal education funding and has referred Maine’s noncompliance to the Department of Justice for potential enforcement action.
A University of New Hampshire poll found that 64% of Maine residents oppose transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports, highlighting public division on the issue.
Senator Susan Collins has publicly supported the federal directive, criticizing Maine's policy as contrary to the original intent of Title IX and emphasizing the importance of fairness and safety in women's sports.