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Feds Crack Down on Maine for Violating Title IX Over Not Protecting Women’s Sports [WATCH]

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March 18, 2025
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Feds Crack Down on Maine for Violating Title IX Over Not Protecting Women's Sports [WATCH]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Monday that the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and Greely High School are in violation of Title IX.

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The determination follows an expanded investigation by the Trump administration, citing violations of Executive Order 14201, which prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports at educational and athletic institutions.

Last month, the OCR launched an investigation into the Maine Department of Education after receiving information that the state intended to defy the executive order.

The probe was expanded last week to include the Maine Principals’ Association, which governs high school athletics in the state, and Greely High School.

Four days after announcing the expanded investigation, HHS issued a formal Notice of Violation.

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In its determination letter, the OCR is now giving the three entities 10 days to “voluntarily commit” to resolving the issue through a signed agreement or face possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for further action.

The investigation concluded that all three entities were obligated to comply with Title IX and had failed to do so.

“The Maine Department of Education may not shirk its obligations under Federal law by ceding control of its extracurricular activities, programs, and services to the Maine Principals’ Association,” Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the OCR at HHS, stated in a press release.

“We hope the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and Greely High School will work with us to come to an agreement that restores fairness in women’s sports.”

President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14201, known as “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” to protect female athletes from competing against biological males and to ensure that female students are not forced into uncomfortable situations in locker rooms or other athletic spaces.

The order also directed federal agencies to review funding for education programs and, where necessary, rescind grants to institutions that do not comply.

The Maine Department of Education has received nearly $1 million in funding from HHS sub-agencies alone, according to a press release from Maine House Republicans.

Republican legislators in Maine have urged Democratic Gov. Janet Mills to comply with the executive order, warning that noncompliance could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal education funding.

“If Maine Democrats continue to double down on allowing biological males to participate in girls’ sports, our students stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding,” said state Rep. Laurel Libby, R–Auburn, on Thursday.

“Gov. Mills and legislative Democrats have a renewed opportunity to do the right thing, to ensure restored funding and a fair and level playing field for Maine girls.”

Libby became a prominent voice in the debate after posting about a Greely High School pole vaulter on social media.

The athlete, who had competed as a male as recently as June 2024, won a state championship in women’s pole vaulting during the Maine Class B indoor championship in February.

Democrats in the Maine state legislature censured Libby for her post, which included images of the athlete competing in both categories.

Shortly after, President Trump weighed in, criticizing Maine’s handling of the issue.

Trump and Mills publicly clashed at the White House, with Trump threatening to pull state funding if Maine did not “clean that up.”

Trump responded by saying she would see her “in court.”

Mills and the Maine Principals’ Association argue that the executive order conflicts with Maine’s Human Rights law, which allows athletes to participate based on gender identity.

“No President – Republican or Democrat – can withhold federal funding authorized and appropriated by Congress and paid for by Maine taxpayers in an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will,” Mills said in a statement after the HHS investigation was announced.

“It is a violation of our Constitution and of our laws, which I took an oath to uphold.”

With federal funding on the line and legal challenges looming, the battle over transgender participation in Maine’s high school athletics is far from over.

The three entities now have until the deadline set by the OCR to decide whether they will comply with federal law or risk further action from the Department of Justice.


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