The Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against the Maine Department of Education, alleging discrimination against female athletes through failure to protect women’s sports programs.
The Attorney General made the announcement today, emphasizing that Maine’s practices constitute a violation of Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding.
“The state of Maine is discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women’s sports. Pretty basic stuff,” the Attorney General stated during the announcement. “The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports.”
The lawsuit comes after what officials describe as exhausted attempts to resolve the matter through other means. “We have exhausted every other remedy. We tried to get Maine to comply. We don’t like standing up here and filing lawsuits. We want to get states to comply with us,” the Attorney General explained.
According to the Department of Justice, Maine was repeatedly notified about alleged infractions, with federal officials urging state authorities to remedy the situation. The federal government has already taken preliminary actions, including stripping certain grants from Maine through other departments.
Beyond competitive fairness, the Attorney General emphasized personal safety concerns for female athletes. “This is about sports. This is also about these young women’s personal safety,” the official noted, adding, “I met many of these women throughout the past weeks and months, and what they have been through is horrific.”
The case represents a significant development in the ongoing national conversation about gender identity policies in school athletics and their intersection with Title IX protections for female athletes.
The Department of Justice has pledged to “continue to fight for women” as the lawsuit proceeds through the legal system.
