Trump Administration Clashes With Maine Over Transgender Athlete Policies

President Trump threatens to withhold federal funding as Maine Governor Janet Mills resists executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports.

President Trump signed an executive order on February 5 banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, citing fairness for female athletes.
Maine Governor Janet Mills has refused to comply with the order, leading to a public confrontation with Trump during a governors’ meeting at the White House.
The U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies have launched Title IX and civil rights investigations into Maine and three other states over noncompliance with the order.
Republican Maine lawmaker Laurel Libby was censured for posting photos of a transgender high school athlete online, sparking criticism from both parties over her use of a minor’s image.
The executive order also includes measures to restrict visas for transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympics, raising concerns about broader implications for transgender rights.