Education Department Cuts Funding To Maine

You ever get the feeling that the showdown between states and Washington is starting to look a lot like a good ol’ fashioned political steel cage match? Well, welcome to round one thousand in the saga of states' rights versus federal muscle. This time, the battleground is Maine—and the gloves are officially off.

So here’s the deal: The U.S. Department of Education just dropped the hammer on the Maine Department of Education. And we’re not talking about a sternly worded letter here. Nope. They pulled every cent of K-12 federal funding from the state.

That’s right—no lunch money, no classroom resources, no nothing. Why? Because Maine’s leadership refused to comply with the Trump administration’s executive order banning males from competing in female sports.

Now, before you think this is just some bureaucratic back-and-forth, let’s be clear: this is the real deal. The Education Department referred the whole thing to the Department of Justice. That's like the principal calling your parents... and then also calling the FBI. It's on.

Governor Janet Mills? She’s not backing down. In fact, she’s been on the offensive, promising to sue the administration over what she’s called an "extreme" interpretation of Title IX. But the acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights at ED, Craig Trainor, made it crystal clear: Maine had its chance. They were warned. They were given multiple opportunities. And they still refused. His words? Brutal. “Be careful what you wish for. Now she will see the Trump administration in court.”

Meanwhile, this isn’t just about one department. The USDA even joined the party, yanking funding from Maine’s education department and temporarily cutting off cash to the University of Maine System. Yes, the USDA. Because apparently, if you’re not in compliance with federal law, you don’t get to eat at the government table—literally.

But here’s where it gets even more serious: this isn’t all political grandstanding. Real injuries have occurred. Female athletes like 19-year-old Payton McNabb have suffered devastating consequences, including a traumatic brain injury after being forced to compete against biological males. This isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s not a debate club argument. This is happening to real people in real time.

Remember when Title IX was all about protecting women from discrimination? Yeah, that’s what Trump’s executive order says it’s trying to restore. Biden had tried to broaden it—include protections for transgender athletes—but that version got challenged into oblivion. Trump’s approach is the law of the land, and Maine decided to say “nah.”

Well, now they’re getting the full weight of federal enforcement.