Maine Universities Cave After Trump Follows Through

Several public universities in Maine have complied with President Donald Trump’s directive and will refrain from allowing biological males who identify as transgender to compete in women’s sports.

A statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that the University of Maine System (UMaine) has agreed to enforce the administration’s order prohibiting transgender-identifying males from participating in female athletic competitions.

This decision comes after federal funding was halted due to the state’s initial refusal to align with the mandate, according to a report from Fox News.

“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 stated.

The department also issued a warning regarding noncompliance: “Any false claim by the UMaine can, and will, result in onerous and even potentially criminal financial liability.”

University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy expressed relief at having reached an agreement with the USDA.

“The University of Maine System has always maintained its compliance with state and federal laws and with NCAA rules, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture also affirmed in a press release today,” Malloy told Fox News.

“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,” he added.

The policy adoption comes after the USDA stated that funding to the UMaine system would be frozen “while potential Title VI and Title IX violations are investigated.”

Tensions escalated in February when President Trump confronted Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills over her refusal to keep transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The clash occurred after Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports,” and Maine’s Department of Education initially refused to comply with the order.

During a White House Governors Working Session, Trump addressed the NCAA’s adherence to the executive order before turning his attention to Governor Mills.

“Is Maine here? The governor of Maine? Are you not going to comply with it?” Trump asked.

“I’ll comply with state and federal law,” Mills responded.

“We are the federal law,” Trump shot back. “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,” he added. “You better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding.”

Governor Mills snarled, “We’ll see you in court.”

“Good, I’ll see you in court,” Trump snapped back. “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.”

Meanwhile, Columbia University has also conceded to Trump’s demands for policy reforms after facing the potential loss of $400 million in federal grants.

The administration had already rescinded a portion of the university’s funding and had threatened further cuts due to the institution’s handling of widespread anti-Israel protests.

As part of its agreement with the Trump administration, Columbia will take steps to expand “intellectual diversity” by appointing new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.

Additionally, the university will adopt a new definition of antisemitism and increase programming at its Tel Aviv Center, a research hub located in Israel.