The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended approximately $30 million in funding to the University of Maine System (UMS) following the state’s non-compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The funding pause affects a network of eight public colleges in Maine and comes as the USDA reviews potential Title IX and Title VI violations. The decision follows Maine’s recent stance against the executive order aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports competitions.
A UMS spokesperson confirmed receiving notification about the funding suspension. According to an email from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the department has directed its “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 pause impacts significant research funding, with the USDA having awarded $29.78 million to UMS in fiscal year 2024 alone. The agency claims to have provided over $100 million to the system in recent years.
The controversy intensified after President Trump’s March 4 address to Congress, where he reaffirmed his intention to implement consequences for states allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. The situation became more contentious following a public disagreement between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, whose office threatened legal action if federal funding was withheld.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that the state and its department of education violated Title IX, referring the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department of Education has also launched an investigation into the state’s policies.
The UMS maintains its compliance with relevant state and federal laws and its status as a member of the NCAA. The system has stated it will provide additional clarity after “further analysis is completed.”
The controversy has sparked public demonstrations, including a “March Against Mills” protest outside Maine’s State House, where female athletes voiced their concerns about the state’s current policies.
According to UMS officials, the funding pause will remain in effect until further notice while the USDA evaluates potential follow-up actions related to Title VI or Title IX violations.
