President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine over the inclusion of transgender athletes.
That echoes calls from Maine Republicans this week that schools here should lose federal funding if they allow trans athletes to play in sports consistent with their gender identity.
During a speech before the Republican Governors Association on Thursday, Trump asked if anyone in the room was from Maine before attacking the state over the continued inclusion of trans athletes.
“So we’re not going to give them any federal funding — none whatsoever — until they clean that up,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order that threatens to withhold federal funds if trans girls and women are allowed to compete in girls and women’s sports. That prompted the NCAA to change its policies.
But the Maine Principals’ Association, which runs high school sports, affirmed this month it will continue to allow trans athletes to compete in accordance with the Maine Human Rights Act, which the Democratic-run Legislature amended in 2021 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.
That continues the association’s longstanding policy of inclusion, which allowed trans athletes to play in sports consistent with their gender identity, unless there was a safety risk. Between 2013 and 2021, the association heard from 56 students wishing to participate during that time, only four of whom were trans girls.
It’s unclear whether Trump will follow through on that threat, which would affect Maine and 21 other states with similar civil rights laws.
University of New Hampshire Law School visiting assistant professor Michael Dube told CBS 13 that Maine could challenge Trump’s order on the grounds that it lacks the force of law here or violates Title IX.
BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.
