Legal Action and Claims
Maine filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the USDA's freeze on federal funds due to the state's stance on transgender athletes in sports, claiming it unlawfully withholds essential funding for child nutrition and other programs.
The lawsuit, led by Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the USDA from withholding funds, arguing that the freeze impacts programs designed to feed children and support disabled adults.
Policy and Political Context
The funding freeze is part of a broader dispute over compliance with Title IX, with the Trump administration enforcing an executive order that bars transgender women from competing in female sports, which Maine refuses to enforce.
Tensions escalated after President Trump threatened to withdraw funding from Maine over its policy on transgender athletes, leading to a legal battle and public statements from both sides, including a notable clash between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills.