Trump admin finds Maine violated Title IX amid battle to protect trans athletes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued a notice of violation to the state of Maine, declaring that the state had violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. This notice, obtained by Fox News Digital, stated that the Maine Department of Education was denying female student athletes an equal opportunity to participate in athletics by allowing male athletes to compete against female athletes.
The notice also warned that if the violations were not corrected, a referral may be made to the Department of Justice. This development came amidst a heated disagreement between President Donald Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills over the state’s refusal to comply with the president’s executive order to keep biological males out of women’s and girls’ sports.
Maine has become a focal point in the national debate over banning or protecting transgender inclusion in women’s sports, particularly after state lawmaker Laurel Libby highlighted a trans athlete who had won a girls’ pole vault competition in February. Libby expressed concern about the fairness of allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports and emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of female athletes.
Following Libby’s revelation, Trump threatened to cut federal funding to Maine for not adhering to his executive order. In response, Governor Mills warned of legal action against the Trump administration if funding was withheld. The two leaders engaged in a public dispute at the White House, further escalating tensions.
Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Maine for potential Title IX violations related to transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports. Concerns over safety prompted police protection for the high school attended by the trans athlete identified by Libby.
In the midst of the controversy, the Maine House of Representatives censured Libby for her remarks, while a protest against Governor Mills, dubbed “the March Against Mills,” took place outside the State House. Female athletes voiced their opposition to the state’s policy on transgender inclusion.
In a counter-protest, activists supporting transgender athletes gathered outside Libby’s home, condemning her stance on the issue. Despite the backlash, Trump reiterated his determination to hold states accountable for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports during his recent address to Congress.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to this cause, emphasizing the president’s belief that such practices are a misuse of taxpayer dollars and contradict the preferences of the majority of Americans. The ongoing debate underscores the complex and contentious nature of the issue of transgender inclusion in sports.
