Maine Takes Legal Action Against USDA Over Frozen Funds Due to Male Athletes Competing in Female Sports
The lawsuit claims that the loss of funding will prevent schoolchildren from receiving meals. However, the USDA head asserts that the funding suspension “does not affect federal feeding programs.”
Maine has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following the agency’s decision to halt federal funding due to the state’s policy allowing male athletes to participate in female sports, which the USDA contends breaches anti-discrimination laws.
According to the complaint, “The secretary made this decision without adhering to the necessary statutory and regulatory protocols for terminating federal funding based on purported Title IX violations.”
In her communication, Rollins remarked that the funding pause “does not impact federal feeding programs or direct assistance to Mainers; if a child was fed today, they will be fed tomorrow.”
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The lawsuit states that the freezing of funds would hinder the state’s ability to pay certain staff and purchase equipment necessary for school meal programs.
“Without employees and equipment, CNP [Child Nutrition Program] personnel will be unable to collect, approve, and process claims for reimbursement from schools and other facilities that provide meals to children and at-risk adults. This will prevent the USDA from disbursing funds to schools and other facilities, leaving children unfed,” the lawsuit maintained.
Maine contended that the Agriculture Secretary’s interpretation of Title IX is incorrect.
“Numerous federal courts have determined that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause mandate schools to allow transgender girls and women to participate on teams for girls and women,” the argument stated.
The lawsuit further requests the court to annul the Secretary’s action and to issue both a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction preventing Rollins and the USDA from freezing federal funds over alleged Title IX violations.
In her letter to the governor of Maine, Rollins conveyed that the “defiance of federal law has cost your state, which must comply with Title IX in educational programming.”
She stated that if Maine intends to continue receiving USDA funds, it needs to demonstrate adherence to Title IX regarding the protection of female athletes.
Investigating Maine
In February, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights initiated an investigation into the MDOE for potential Title IX violations. The office concluded in March that MDOE had indeed violated the regulations.
This inquiry was prompted by President Donald Trump’s presidential action on February 5, condemning “male competitive participation in women’s sports” and revoking “all funds from educational programs that deny women and girls fair athletic opportunities.”
It stated that permitting men to compete against women in sports is “demeaning, unfair, and poses dangers to women and girls, denying them equal opportunities to partake in and excel in competitive sports.”
The team, comprising DOJ and Education Department investigators, will implement a “rapid resolution” process to address the increasing number of cases.
“The establishment of the Title IX SIT today will benefit women and girls nationwide who have suffered discrimination and indignity in their educational experiences,” commented Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
“To all entities permitting men to compete in women’s sports and access women’s private facilities: There’s a new sheriff in town. We will no longer tolerate the denial of women’s civil rights.”