The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an agreement with the University of Maine System (UMS) to adhere to President Donald J. Trump’s executive order restricting biological male athletes from participating in women’s sports. UMS, comprising eight public universities in Maine, faced a suspension of federal funding from the USDA last week amid a dispute between President Trump and Maine’s Democrat Governor Janet Mills.
“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 said in a statement, warning: “Any false claim by the UMaine can, and will, result in onerous and even potentially criminal financial liability.”
In fiscal year 2024, the USDA awarded nearly $29.78 million to UMS for research initiatives. The USDA claims to have directed over $100 million to the system in recent years. Concurrently, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed its gender eligibility policy to disallow athletes born male from competing in women’s sports.
Trump previously threatened to cut funding to Maine if male athletes were permitted to partake in girls’ sports. During a White House event in late February, President Trump pressed Gov. Mills on whether her state would comply with his order, with the Maine Democrat insisting she would abide by state and federal laws. “Well, we are the federal law… You’d better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t,” Trump replied.
Following the exchange, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into potential Title IX violations by the state. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that Maine’s allowance of male athletes in women’s sports infringes upon Title IX, threatening to involve the Department of Justice (DOJ) if the state does not comply with Trump’s order.