President Donald Trump’s conflict with Maine escalated as Attorney General Pam Bondi prepared to take legal action against the state for its refusal to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Trump threatened to withhold funding from Maine if it did not comply with his executive order on the matter. Despite this ultimatum, Maine Governor Janet Mills stood firm, stating, “We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court.”

The administration’s attempt to cut off federal funding for Maine’s public schools and school lunch program led to the impending lawsuit, following a contentious meeting between Trump and Governor Mills. Trump’s executive order, aimed at barring transgender athletes from women’s sports, has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue it restores fairness, while critics believe it infringes on the rights of a small minority of athletes. Notably, out of over 510,000 collegiate athletes, fewer than 10 publicly identify as transgender, according to the NCAA.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture froze school lunch funding for Maine, citing Title IX violations, but a District Court judge temporarily blocked this action following Maine’s legal challenge. The Department of Education also terminated $250 million in K-12 public education funds for the state and referred the matter to the Justice Department for potential enforcement under Title IX.

Maine’s assistant attorney general emphasized that Title IX does not prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports teams, pushing back against the federal government’s directives. The legal battle underscores the contentious national debate over transgender athletes’ rights and highlights the clash between federal mandates and state autonomy on this issue.