Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says the state will not sign a Title IX resolution agreement with Department of Education.
By refusing, the state now risks the case being referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The issue revolves around Maine allowing transgender students, who were assigned male at birth, to participate in girls’ sports.
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The Maine AG’s office just sent this letter to the US DOE, saying “we are at an impasse.”
The Maine DOE and AG refuse to sign a resolution agreement on Title IX compliance after a final warning from the Trump administration against allowing transgender athletes in girls sports. pic.twitter.com/2zPUrPNG40
— Cate McCusker (@catemccusker) April 11, 2025
U.S. Department of Education has responded, announing consequences for Maine’s Title IX Non-compliance
From the DOE:
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) referred its Title IX investigation into the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for further enforcement action. Simultaneously, ED will initiate an administrative proceeding to adjudicate termination of MDOE’s federal K-12 education funding, including formula and discretionary grants.
These actions are a direct result of MDOE’s continued refusal to comply with Title IX. ED issued a noncompliance finding on March 19, and sent a final warning letter to the state on March 31.
“The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance with Title IX, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. “The Maine Department of Education will now have to defend its discriminatory practices before a Department administrative law judge and in a federal court against the Justice Department. Governor Mills would have done well to adhere to the wisdom embedded in the old idiom—be careful what you wish for. Now she will see the Trump Administration in court.”
Given the Maine Department of Education’s (MDOE) refusal to comply with Title IX, ED has referred its investigation into MDOE to @TheJusticeDept & will initiate proceedings to adjudicate termination of MDOE’s federal K-12 education funding. https://t.co/gywR05sKsF pic.twitter.com/YNVcvTSmql
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) April 11, 2025
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