Trump threatens to cut federal funding to Maine over transgender athletes in women's sports
By isabelle // 2025-02-23
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  • President Trump threatens to cut federal funding to Maine unless it stops allowing biological males in women’s sports, citing fairness and safety concerns.
  • Maine’s Democratic leadership refuses to comply, citing state laws protecting gender identity, setting up a clash with federal Title IX enforcement.
  • Trump’s executive order, “No Men in Women’s Sports,” aims to enforce Title IX by barring transgender athletes from competing against biological females.
President Donald Trump has drawn a hard line in the sand, threatening to cut off federal funding to Maine unless the state stops allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. Speaking at a Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Trump declared, “We’re not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up.” The announcement comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce a February 5 executive order aimed at protecting the integrity of women’s sports by barring transgender athletes from competing against biological females. The issue has sparked a heated national debate, pitting conservative values of fairness and safety against progressive claims of inclusivity. While liberals argue that allowing transgender athletes to compete aligns with principles of equality, conservatives like Trump warn that it undermines the very foundation of women’s sports, putting female athletes at a disadvantage and potentially endangering their safety. Trump’s executive order, titled “No Men in Women’s Sports,” directs federal agencies to review grants, programs, and policies to ensure compliance with Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. The order specifically targets states and institutions that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports, calling it a matter of “safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.” Maine, however, has refused to comply. The state’s Democratic leadership has doubled down on its commitment to allowing transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identity, citing the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Mike Burnham, executive director of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), which oversees high school sports, stated, “The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the MPA will continue to follow state law as it pertains to gender identity.” This defiance has put Maine squarely in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The U.S. Department of Education has already launched Title IX investigations into other states, such as Minnesota and California, for similar noncompliance. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, warned, “History does not look kindly on entities and states that actively opposed the enforcement of federal civil rights laws that protect women and girls from discrimination and harassment.”

The dangers of biological males in women’s sports

The inclusion of biological males in women’s sports has raised significant concerns about fairness and safety. Critics argue that biological males, even after undergoing hormone therapy, retain physical advantages such as greater muscle mass, bone density, and lung capacity, which can create an uneven playing field. Trump’s executive order highlights these concerns, stating, “These policies are unfair to female athletes and do not protect female safety.” The issue gained national attention earlier this year when a transgender high school athlete in Maine won a pole vaulting championship, helping their team secure a state title by a single point. Critics argue that such victories come at the expense of female athletes who have trained for years to compete on a level playing field. Liberals often frame the debate as a matter of inclusivity and civil rights, but their policies are actually endangering the very women they claim to protect. By prioritizing the feelings of a small minority over the rights and safety of female athletes, liberals are undermining decades of progress in women’s sports.

A legal and political showdown

Maine’s Democratic leaders have vowed to fight back against Trump’s threats. Governor Janet Mills pledged to take “all appropriate and necessary legal action” if the administration follows through on its funding cuts. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey called Trump’s actions “disturbing,” accusing the president of using “children as pawns in advancing his political agenda.” However, legal experts note that federal law, including Title IX, supersedes state statutes. Michael Dube, a visiting assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire Law School, told CBS 13 that Maine could challenge Trump’s order on the grounds that it violates Title IX or lacks the force of law. The battle over transgender athletes in women’s sports is far from over. As Trump continues to push for enforcement of his executive order, states like Maine are digging in their heels, setting the stage for a protracted legal and political showdown. Sources for this article include: FoxNews.com 100PercentFedUp.com BangorDailyNews.com
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