Maine Universities Comply with Trump Order to Exclude Transgender Athletes from Women's Sports

The University of Maine System (UMS), a network of eight public universities in the state, has agreed to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in women's sports, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday.

This decision comes after a temporary pause in USDA funding to UMS last week amidst an ongoing federal-state clash over transgender inclusion in female sports. The funding, which had been suspended, was quickly reinstated after UMS assured compliance with Trump's directive.

The USDA stated that the University of Maine System has now aligned with Title IX requirements to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls in sports, as outlined in Trump's executive order. The agency warned that any false claims of compliance could result in financial penalties, or worse, criminal liability. Talk about putting universities between a rock and a hard place.

UMS Chancellor Dannel Malloy expressed relief at resolving the conflict, emphasizing the importance of federal funding for both education and research in Maine communities. Malloy stated, "We are relieved to put the Department’s Title IX compliance review behind us so the land-grant University of Maine and our statewide partners can continue to leverage USDA and other essential federal funds to strengthen and grow our natural resource economy and dependent rural communities through world-class education, research and extension." Well, it seems relief is the keyword here—guess nobody wanted their funding to vanish into thin air.

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA awarded nearly $30 million to UMS for research projects. Over the years, the system has received over $100 million in federal funding, emphasizing the stakes involved in adhering to federal mandates.

The NCAA has also adjusted its gender eligibility policy, now barring athletes born male from competing in women's sports. This aligns with Trump's executive order, which has been a flashpoint in debates about gender and sports.

Trump initially threatened to cut funding to Maine during a meeting of GOP governors at the White House in February. This sparked a fiery exchange between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, who vowed legal action against the administration if federal funds were withheld. The drama escalated when the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into Maine’s compliance with Title IX.

Adding to the pressure, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined that Maine violated Title IX by permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. HHS warned of potential legal action if Maine failed to comply with Trump's directive. Anthony Archeval, the acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights, bluntly stated, "Girls deserve girls-only sports without male competitors. And if Maine won’t come to the table voluntarily, HHS will enforce Title IX to the fullest extent permitted by law." Not much room for negotiation there.

This contentious issue highlights the broader debate around gender identity and fairness in sports—a debate that is unlikely to fade anytime soon.