A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to instantly elevate its ice on federal funding for Maine, and that the USDA be required to release any money that has been deferred to the condition.
The USDA is required to “unfreeze and transfer to the state of Maine any federal money that they have frozen, failed, or refused to pay because of the condition of Maine’s reported failure to comply with the demands of Title IX,” according to the decision.
The management is also “barred from freezing, ending, or often interfering with the state of Maine’s coming national funding for alleged breaches of Title IX without complying with the legally required process,” according to Fox News.
This decision comes after the USDA earlier this month set a freeze on federal money for Maine. The state resisted complying with President Donald Trump’s February executive order, which prohibited trans athletes from competing in female ‘ and women’s sports. Its opposition to the federal government resulted from Maine’s refusal to follow the attempt, which put it under enormous stress from Washington. In a speech on February 20Trump, Trump warned that if the condition disregarded the order, it could lose federal funding.
Maine sued the USDA on Monday in response to the ice. The state argued that the withheld funding was crucial to providing essential services, including foods for babies in classrooms, after-school programs, and for disabled adults in gregorized settings. The judge agreed with this assertion, pointing out that the freeze “restricted ] the ability to provide meals to children and vulnerable adults,” despite being related to Title IX violations.
Local officials are continuing to criticize Maine’s partnership with the federal government, which has been closely watched. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) recently called for a resolution of the conflict and emphasized her commitment to ensuring the state’s money. Collins has backed the state’s position on transgender athletes in women’s sports, but she is still convinced that the issue should be resolved without sacrificing vital services.
The Maine Department of Education has also launched its personal research into the state of Maine with regard to the matter. Last Friday, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights ( OCR ) sent a letter to the Department of Justice pleading with the Maine Department of Education ( MDOE ) because it allowed transgender athletes to compete in girls ‘ sports.
Following a March 28 recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services, which included the Maine Principals ‘ Association and Greely High School, the Department of Justice received a second recommendation regarding Maine’s laws on this subject.
When Maine express agent Laurel Libby posted on social media about a transgender swimmer who won a female ‘ pole vault opposition at Greely High School in February, the controversy surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in Maine institutions was made public. The state’s Democratic leadership responded to the post, which led to Libby being criticized by Speaker Ryan Fecteau and the Democratic majority. In consequence, she has had to put restrictions on her ability to carry out legislative actions in the interests of her constituents.
