Maine Schools Allowing Kids to Hide Gender Identity Sparks Federal Showdown

In a move that's sparking national debate, more than 50 school districts in Maine have policies allowing minors to conceal their gender identity from parents, according to a report by Parents Defending Education (PDE).

PDE, a grassroots watchdog organization, revealed that at least 57 of Maine's 192 school districts have policies that actively exclude parents from being informed if their child identifies as another gender. The group obtained this information through public records requests, adding fuel to an already fiery discussion over parental rights and gender ideologies in schools.

This revelation arrives on the heels of former President Donald Trump’s vocal criticism of Maine Governor Janet Millis, a Democrat, for her refusal to enforce his "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order. Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to Maine if the state continues to defy his directive.

Erika Sanzi, a spokesperson for PDE, didn't hold back, stating, "It was totally unsurprising to see the governor of Maine go to the mat to keep males in women’s sports when over 50 school districts in Maine have written policies to deceive parents about their own child." She added that many parents in Maine are now speaking out, with hopes that these policies will be reversed, citing polling that suggests nearly 80% of constituents oppose such measures.

One prime example is Portland Public Schools, Maine's largest district. Its policy on "transgender and gender expansive students" mandates that if a student and their parent disagree on the student’s gender identity, the school will side with the child. Moreover, school staff are instructed to honor the student's wishes regarding disclosure of their transgender status, even to parents, unless explicitly authorized or legally required to do so.

Trump, never one to mince words, blasted the situation last week, telling Republican governors in Washington, "I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give them any federal money. They are still saying, 'We want men to play in women’s sports,' and I cannot believe that they’re doing that. … So, we’re not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up."

His executive order, signed earlier this year, takes direct aim at policies like those in Maine. It directs federal agencies to enforce Title IX protections, revoke funding from noncompliant schools, and block what Trump calls "radical indoctrination" in K-12 education. Several other blue states, including California and Minnesota, have signaled they, too, will not comply.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Maine Department of Education for comment, though no response has been reported at this time.

While the battle between Maine schools and federal policy plays out, one thing is clear: the debate over parental rights and gender identity in education isn't cooling off anytime soon. Parents, politicians, and advocates on all sides are digging in, and the stakes—federal funding, legal challenges, and the trust between schools and families—couldn't be higher.