Donald Trump has made an unexpected reversal regarding Maine in the midst of his ongoing dispute with the state concerning transgender students in school sports.
Earlier this year, President Trump engaged in a heated discussion with Maine Governor Janet Mills concerning his executive order that restricts transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
During a February 21 meeting, Trump insisted that Mills comply with the order, threatening to cut federal funding for the state, including resources for administrative and technological functions in schools, if she refused to comply.
The president stated: “We are federal law, you better do it. You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding… Your population doesn’t want men in women’s sports.”
Governor Mills responded by saying: “We’ll see you in court.”
Trump replied, “Good. I’ll see you in court. I’ll look forward to that. That should be a real easy one.” He added, “And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
However, Trump has now seemingly softened his stance by pausing efforts to withhold funds that were allocated for the state’s child nutrition program, as reported by The New York Times.
In response, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced that the state would withdraw the lawsuit it had filed against the US Department of Agriculture.
Frey commented, “It’s unfortunate that my office had to resort to federal court just to get USDA to comply with the law and its own regulations. But we are pleased that the lawsuit has now been resolved and that Maine will continue to receive funds as directed by Congress to feed children and vulnerable adults.”
He explained that the federal funds were utilized for food preparation in schools, childcare centers, and assistance in feeding disabled adults.
The disagreement emerged when a letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined a conflict between the state and federal governments regarding Maine’s compliance with Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.
In a statement in April, Rollins mentioned that her agency was reviewing grants awarded to Maine by the Biden administration, labeling them as ‘wasteful, redundant, or otherwise against the priorities of the Trump Administration.’
Shortly after, Maine’s Department of Education revealed difficulties in accessing federal funds for a state nutrition program, leading the state to sue the Trump administration for impacting children and vulnerable adults.
Frey said: “The food doesn’t just buy itself, deliver itself, cook itself,” and accused the Trump administration of trying to ‘bully’ Maine.
Maine’s legal team contended that the child nutrition program was entitled to $1.8 million for the current fiscal year, while previously awarded funds that had been blocked totaled over $900,000, according to court documents.
The lawsuit also noted that the program anticipated receiving around $3 million, typically allocated every July for a summer meal program and meal reimbursement.
A federal judge ordered the administration to release the funds last month, stating that Maine was likely to succeed in its legal challenge.
Governor Mills celebrated the outcome, saying in a statement: “The state of Maine went to court and fought this unlawful attempt to freeze critical funding for our school lunch program – and we won.”
She added, “I applaud the work of Attorney General Frey and his staff in representing the state in this action against USDA, and preserving healthy school meals for 172,000 Maine school children.”