It was only in late February that President Trump and Maine’s Democrat Governor Janet Mills had words over his executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which vowed to stop federal funding to institutions that allow biologically born males to compete against females.
As RedState’s Sister Toldjah reported, Mills appeared defiant when Trump called her out at a National Governors Association working session at the White House:
“Is Maine here? The governor of Maine?” Trump said, before locating Mills seated nearby at a table in the White House State Dining Room. “Are you not going to comply with it?”
Mills replied, “I’m going to comply with state and federal law.”
“We are the federal law,” Trump responded. “You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
On Monday, Mills found out the president wasn’t kidding around as the U.S. Department of Agriculture froze funding to the University of Maine System, according to school officials:
From UMaine:
An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the Department’s “awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other… pic.twitter.com/zHJSMRyA6B
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) March 11, 2025
An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the Department’s “awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System.”
The university’s quest to ensure that men can unfairly (and dangerously) continue to compete in women’s athletics might turn out to be very costly:
Officials say that in an email received Monday, the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer indicated that the department is evaluating further action against the university for possible violations of Title VI and Title IX.
As a land-grant institution, the University of Maine received almost $30 million last year in USDA funding, primarily used for research.
School officials say the email directs the department’s awarding agencies to temporarily stop issuing payments to both Columbia University and the University of Maine System.
🚨BREAKING: The Trump administration has paused federal funding to Maine Universities for failing to ban men in women’s sports in defiance of the president’s executive orders.
Good! pic.twitter.com/JA0beg4g6K
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 12, 2025
More–> Game On: Donald Trump Confronts Maine Governor in Heated Exchange Over Vow to Defy Women’s Sports EO
Democrat Maine Governor Doubles Down on Transgender Policies After Trump Tiff, USDA Title IX Review
Universities are finding out the hard way that Team Trump isn’t playing softball. Case in point: the administration pulled $400 million in funding from Columbia University Friday for their failure to stop the waves of antisemitism and pro-jihadi violence on their campus.
Maine officials are already feeling the heat:
In a statement, [independent] Maine Senator Angus King said the funding pause will impact Maine’s economy.
“The abrupt, unprecedented decision to cancel millions of dollars in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for the University of Maine will have dramatic impacts on Maine’s current and future workforce, agricultural research, supply chain resiliency, and small businesses across the state,” he said.
I have a solution for you, Senator—ensure that women and girls in the Pine Tree State are able to compete on a level playing field.
Of course, the ACLU had to jump in with a ridiculous argument:
Zachary Heiden, chief counsel at the ACLU of Maine, said the government’s withholding of funds violates the University of Maine’s right to academic freedom.
“Now what we’re seeing is the federal government trying to coerce schools to teach a certain way or to not teach certain topics. That’s inconsistent not only with freedom of expression but also with this broader idea of academic freedom,” Heiden said.
No, the government’s stance is not about academic freedom or forcing the university to teach things a certain way; it’s about trying to keep females safe.
It’s a mystery that so many leftists are willing to die on this hill when the American public has indicated in polls that they disapprove of men in women’s sports by a staggering 80 percent.
Part of me hopes they’ll stick with it so we can have more elections like the last one—where they get crushed.
Why are the Democrats so insistent that boys and men get to unfairly compete again girls and women?
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