Eight public Universities in Maine have caved to President Donald Trump’s order and will no longer allow trans-identifying men to compete in women’s sports.
A statement from the United States Department of Agriculture said that the University of Maine System (UMaine) will follow the Trump administration’s order barring trans-identifying men from competing in women’s sports after university funding was paused amid the state’s continued refusal to comply, Fox News reported.
“After the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated a Title IX compliance review regarding federal funding, the University of Maine System (UMaine) has clearly communicated its compliance with Title IX’s requirement to protect equal opportunities for women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports, as articulated in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order,” the USDA statement read.
“Any false claim by the UMaine can, and will, result in onerous and even potentially criminal financial liability,” it added.
University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy told Fox News that it was “relieved” to have come to an understanding with the USDA.
Maine universities agree to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports after Trump admin pauses funding https://t.co/Cza7qhYLag
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 21, 2025
“The University of Maine System has always maintained its compliance with state and federal laws and with NCAA rules, which the U.S. The Department of Agriculture also affirmed in a press release today,” Malloy said.
“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,” the chancellor added.
The statement comes after the USDA said funding to UMS schools would be paused “while potential Title VI and Title IX violations are investigated,” a spokesperson said.
In February, fireworks erupted at the White House when President Trump challenged Maine’s Democrat Governor Janet Mills — who refused to defend the integrity of women’s sports — after the president signed an Executive Order titled “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports.”
Trump delivered remarks at the Governors Working Session, where he discussed the NCAA complying with his executive order before he looked up from the podium, questioning: “Is Maine here? The governor of Maine? Are you not going to comply with it?”
“I’ll comply with state and federal law,” Governor Mills responded.
“We are the federal law,” Trump told her. “You better do it. Because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t. And by the way, your population … doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports. You better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding.”
“We’ll see you in court,” the governor can be heard saying.
“Good, I’ll see you in court,” Trump said. “I look forward to that, that should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
The exchange came after Maine’s Department of Education said it would not comply with Trump’s executive order.
Related: Trump Spars With Maine’s Dem Governor Over Men In Women’s Sports At White House
