WASHINGTON (AP and WGAN staff reporting) — The Trump administration announced a lawsuit Wednesday against Maine’s education department for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls’ sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex.
The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding and a clash at the White House when she told the president: “We’ll see you in court.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the legal action at a news conference in Washington alongside former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has emerged as a public face of the opposition to transgender athletes.
Trump’s departments of Education and Health and Human Services have said the Maine agency is violating the federal Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls’ teams.
Maine officials have refused to agree with a settlement that would have banned transgender students from sports, arguing that the law does not prevent schools from letting transgender athletes participate.
Maine Republican Representative Laural Libby joined Bondi at the news conference, where she mentioned the Aroostook County school district is already in compliance.
“I would encourage other school boards throughout Maine, I would exhort you to speak up for Maine girls, similarly, and vote to align with Title IX,” said Libby.
The School Board for District 70 in Aroostook County is moving to align with the Trump administration’s Title IX policy.
The school board has voted unanimously to comply with the administration’s interpretation by recognizing only two sexes, biological male and female, and that all private spaces be separated by biological sex.
The board made the change Monday.
The school district serves prominent towns in Aroostook County, which voted for President Trump by 18 points in November.
Meanwhile, Governor Jane Mills is responding to the Trump administration’s announcement of the lawsuit.
Mills released a statement, saying the administration is ignoring the Constitution and abandoning the rule of law.
Mills said the issue has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, but about states’ rights and defending against “a federal government bent on imposing its will.”
“Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last,” said Mills.
