The U.S. Department of Agriculture has halted millions of dollars in federal funding to the University of Maine system for a compliance review concerning the prohibition of transgender athletes. This action follows a public dispute between President Donald Trump and Maine’s Governor Janet Mills over allowing trans athletes in school sports. Trump’s warning to pull funding from schools that permit trans athletes led to a standoff, with Mills vowing legal action.

Subsequently, the USDA initiated a compliance review of the University of Maine, accusing the system of defying the order against transgender athletes in school sports. The freeze on funding, which amounted to around $30 million in fiscal year 2024, impacts research on contamination in Maine farms and various youth programs.

In a separate move, the Trump administration also withdrew $400 million in federal contracts and grants from Columbia University, alleging the institution’s association with antisemitism due to protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Columbia’s president, Katrina Armstrong, expressed concerns about the severe impact of the funding cuts on teaching, research, and medical operations at the renowned university.

These developments underscore the complex intersection of politics, funding, and social issues within the education sector, highlighting the significant consequences for institutions caught in the midst of contentious policy debates.