Overview

• The U.S. Department of Education referred Maine to the Department of Justice on April 11, 2025, over its refusal to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports in compliance with federal Title IX directives.
• Federal agencies, including the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services, are initiating proceedings to suspend Maine's federal K-12 education funding, which amounts to nearly $400 million annually.
• Maine Governor Janet Mills and the state's Attorney General argue that the Maine Human Rights Act protects transgender inclusion in sports and supersedes federal directives under Title IX.
• This conflict stems from President Trump's February 5 executive order banning transgender athletes from girls' sports, which Maine has openly defied despite warnings and deadlines from federal authorities.
• Public opinion in Maine remains divided, with polls showing 64% of residents opposing transgender participation in girls' sports, while LGBTQ+ advocacy groups defend the state's stance.