Trump admin slashes funding for Maine universities in stand-off over protecting women's sports

On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture paused funding to the University of Maine System (UMS), a network of eight public colleges in the state.

According to UMS officials, the pause is in response to Maine’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order that keeps biological men out of women's sports. Fox News reported that the USDA is reviewing potential Title IX and Title VI violations by the universities for failing to comply with the order.

A UMS spokesperson told the outlet, "An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s 'awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System.'"

The message continued, "This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations. Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice."

The spokesperson said UMS told the USDA that the universities "were in compliance with relevant state and federal laws and that UMS universities are members of the NCAA," and "unaware" of any Title VI violations but was doing "further analysis." UMS said that in fiscal year 2024, the USDA awarded $29.78 million for research but the USDA claims it has provided over $100 million to UMS in recent years.

During a meeting of GOP governors at the White House in February, Trump and Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills sparred after the president pledged to cut funding to Maine, specifically if the state continued to allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports. Mills retorted “We’ll see you in court.” Trump said he'd look forward to it.

Mills' office threatened legal action against the Trump administration if it withheld federal funding from the state. Hours after the public argument, the Education Department announced it would investigate Maine for allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports and for potential Title IX violations. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services has already determined Maine has violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete against girls and has made a referral to the Justice Department.