Trump Administration Sues Maine Over Transgender Athletes

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Maine for allowing transgender girls to participate in girls' sports, claiming this violates Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. Attorney General Pam Bondi, joined by advocate Riley Gaines, announced the lawsuit and warned that similar legal actions could target states such as California and Minnesota. President Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports preceded the lawsuit and led to a public confrontation with Maine Governor Janet Mills, who has pledged to defend state policy in court. The administration has threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine's schools, but a federal judge has temporarily blocked these actions. The case comes amid a broader national debate and several state-level restrictions on transgender athlete participation, heightened by high-profile school championship incidents. Maine officials argue there is no federal precedent barring transgender girls from participating and have challenged the administration’s funding threats in court.