Overview

• The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on April 16, 2025, alleging Maine violates Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.
• Gov. Janet Mills has called the lawsuit baseless, asserting it lacks legal authority and misinterprets the scope of Title IX protections.
• Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey stated there are no safety concerns associated with transgender athletes participating in girls' sports, countering claims of harm raised by federal officials.
• A federal judge previously ordered the unfreezing of USDA school nutrition funds, but broader federal funding cuts tied to the dispute remain unresolved.
• The legal battle highlights a broader national conflict over the definition of 'sex' under Title IX and the balance of federal and state authority.