Maine Found in Violation of Title IX Over Biological Males in Women's Sports

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has ruled that Maine’s Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and Greely High School are all in violation of Title IX regulations. The decision, announced Monday, stems from Maine’s practice of allowing biological males to compete in women's sports, a move that directly defies an executive order issued by former President Trump.

Trump’s Executive Order 14201, colloquially known as "Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports," was designed to ensure female athletes wouldn’t have to "compete with or against biological males" or encounter them in gender-specific spaces like locker rooms. The order also included a provision for federal agencies to review and potentially rescind funding to institutions that fail to comply.

Following the investigation, HHS sent a "Notice of Violation" to the Maine entities, offering them 10 days to voluntarily address the issue or face potential legal consequences through the Department of Justice. Acting Director of the OCR, Anthony Archeval, stated, "We hope the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and Greely High School will work with us to come to an agreement that restores fairness in women’s sports."

Republican lawmakers in Maine, including state Rep. Laurel Libby, have been vocal in urging Democratic Governor Janet Mills to comply with the federal order. Libby highlighted the stakes, stating that the refusal threatens hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for K-12 schools. Libby also drew attention to the controversy by posting images of a Greely High School athlete who, after previously competing as a biological male, won the women’s pole-vaulting state championship.

Governor Mills, however, remains defiant, arguing that Trump’s executive order conflicts with Maine’s Human Rights law, which supports athletic participation based on an individual’s stated gender identity. Mills has publicly stated that compliance with the federal directive would violate state law and her constitutional oath. "No President can withhold federal funding authorized by Congress to coerce compliance with his will," Mills said, indicating she’s prepared to take the issue to court.

The clash has escalated, with Trump himself weighing in during a public exchange with Mills. The former president threatened Maine’s funding directly, while Mills shot back, promising legal challenges. It’s worth noting that this entire debacle underscores the broader national debate over gender identity and its intersection with sports.

HHS investigators pointed out that Maine’s Department of Education received nearly $1 million from federal sub-agencies last year, funds that are now at risk. The political and legal ramifications of this decision could stretch well beyond Maine, as the tension between federal and state policies continues to heat up.

At its core, this is a battle over fairness in athletics, federal authority, and state sovereignty. Whether Maine will comply or continue the fight remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: this story is far from over.