In a victory for the state of Maine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has backed down from its threat to freeze federal nutrition funding, a decision tied to the ongoing legal clash over transgender athletes in girls’ sports. This settlement brings an end to one of the legal battles ignited by the Trump administration’s demands to ban transgender athletes from competing in female sports.
The resolution came swiftly after a federal judge intervened last month, temporarily blocking the USDA from cutting off critical funding that helps feed schoolchildren and vulnerable adults in Maine. Maine’s Attorney General, Aaron Frey, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the state will continue receiving the funds it needs to support its nutrition programs.
While this battle over nutrition funding is resolved, the broader conflict remains. The U.S. Department of Education and the Justice Department continue to press their case that Maine is in violation of Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. This ongoing legal action threatens a much larger sum: around $250 million in annual education funding for Maine schools.
The USDA’s decision to settle followed a standoff between Maine’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills, and President Trump, who had previously threatened to withhold federal funds unless the state complied with his executive order banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports. At a February meeting with governors, Mills fired back, “We’re going to follow the law, sir. We’ll see you in court.”
A key moment in this saga occurred on April 11, when U.S. District Judge John Woodcock ruled that the USDA had likely violated legal procedures when it initially moved to freeze funds. Rather than continuing the legal battle over a long-term injunction, the USDA agreed to restore funding, ensuring that Maine’s access to federal support would proceed in accordance with all necessary legal protocols.
This settlement does not, however, alter the ongoing legal proceedings regarding Title IX, which continues to loom over Maine’s educational funding and policies.
