Justice Department Sues Maine Over Transgender Athlete Policies
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The Justice Department has formally filed a lawsuit against Maine, challenging the state’s refusal to adhere to President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender athletes competing in high school sports. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the legal action, citing violations of Title IX, the federal law designed to prevent sex-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funding.
In her announcement, Bondi expressed the administration’s frustration, stating, “We have exhausted every other remedy” to prompt Maine’s compliance. The lawsuit argues that biological differences between males and females inherently provide boys with advantages in athletic competitions, ultimately sidelining female athletes from opportunities for advancement, recognition, and scholarships.
This lawsuit is part of an ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Maine’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills. Earlier threats from Trump included potential cuts to federal funding if the state continued its current policies. Bondi reiterated the Justice Department’s commitment to enforcing federal law, stressing that state officials must comply.
Maine has already faced various repercussions for its stance. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education found the Maine Department of Education in violation of Title IX and referred the case to the Justice Department. Additionally, the Trump administration recently suspended over $1.5 million in federal grants to Maine’s corrections department and paused funds for educational programs due to the state’s non-compliance.
Despite the federal pressures and legal threats, Governor Mills has remained steadfast against the lawsuits, indicating her willingness to fight in court. Recently, a Maine court ruled in favor of unfreezing USDA funding for children’s nutrition programs, reinforcing state resistance against federal overreach in educational policies.
As the lawsuit unfolds, the Justice Department has begun seeking a judicial order to reinstate titles to young women who may have lost them to transgender athletes, contemplating further actions regarding past funding non-compliance.
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