# Trump admin cuts funding to Maine universities as state defies order to ban trans athletes from women's sports

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Published March 11, 2025 7:25pm EDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pausing funding to the University of Maine System (UMS), a network of eight public colleges in the state, according to UMS officials. The pause is in response to the state's recent  with President Donald Trump's executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports.

The pause in funding comes as the USDA reviews potential Title IX and Title VI violations by the universities, amid the state's recent refusal to comply with  to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports. Trump reaffirmed his intent to punish states that continue to allow trans athletes to compete with girls during his March 4 

 has now acted on that promise.

A UMS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday it has been notified its funding will be paused.





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Katherine Collins, the mother of Maine student-athletes, joins 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss Gov. Janet Mills threatening to sue President Donald Trump over his transgender athlete ban and Rep. Laurel Libby being censured over the issue.

"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 spokesperson said.

"The message goes on to state, 'This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations. Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice.'"

The UMS spokesperson says the system told the USDA the universities "were in compliance with relevant state and federal laws and that UMS universities are members of the NCAA," adding the system is "unaware" of any Title VI violations.

However, UMS says it will provide further clarity on the situation after "further analysis is completed."

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA awarded $29.78 million in funding to UMS for research, the system said. The USDA claims it has provided over $100 million to the UMS in recent years in  to the system.

The NCAA also amended its gender eligibility policy to prohibit any athlete born biologically male from competing in women's sports.

Trump initially vowed to cut funding to Maine specifically if it continued to allow trans athletes to compete in girls sports during a meeting of GOP governors at the White House on Feb. 20.

Just hours after that interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would  for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports and for potential Title IX violations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already determined that the state and its department of education have violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete and has made a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.



Maine officiating judge Allen Cornwall unpacks the controversy after a transgender athlete took home a pole-vaulting victory on 'America Reports.'



## Maine coach-judge says he's getting positive response for defending girls in transgender athlete controversy

A day later, eight pro-trans activists protested outside Libby's home in opposition to her views.

They held signs that said "Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain" and "Protect trans youth," according to .

Several female athletes took the microphone at the march to speak out against the Democratic governor.

A day later, eight pro-trans activists protested outside Libby's home in opposition to her views.

They held signs that said "Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain" and "Protect trans youth," according to .

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
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