A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release federal funding that was previously frozen for Maine. This funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was withheld after a dispute between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills over transgender athletes competing in school sports.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock approved Maine’s request for a temporary restraining order. This decision is part of a larger conflict involving various federal agencies that have threatened funding to the state. The USDA has not yet commented on the ruling.
The tension began earlier this year when President Trump issued an executive order that barred transgender student athletes from competing on girls’ sports teams. The order also threatened to cut federal funds for educational programs that do not comply with these new rules. In response, the Maine Principals’ Association, which oversees school sports in the state, announced it would continue to allow trans girls to compete, citing state law as its basis.
During a White House event in February, Trump publicly confronted Mills about her refusal to follow his executive order, warning her that she would lose federal funding if she did not comply. Mills replied, "See you in court," indicating her willingness to challenge the federal government’s stance.
Following this exchange, Trump demanded an apology from Mills, insisting she retract her legal challenge against his administration. In the meantime, the USDA has initiated investigations into Maine, raising concerns about compliance with Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.
In early April, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins informed Mills that funding for certain school administrative functions would be paused due to what he described as her "defiance of federal law." The amount of funding affected remains unclear, but Rollins suggested that other educational grants could also be reviewed.
In response to the USDA’s actions, Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey filed a complaint arguing that the USDA did not follow proper procedures in freezing the funds. He emphasized that the funding is crucial for feeding schoolchildren in the state. The court’s recent ruling to unfreeze the funds is a significant step for Maine as it seeks to maintain its educational programs amidst ongoing federal scrutiny.