- The Maine Department of Education has received a “final warning” from the U.S. Department of Education. The warning demands Maine to comply with President Trump’s executive order banning biological males from girls’ sports, with a new deadline of April 11.
- Maine officials from the state Education Department, Maine Principals’ Association and a high school have refused to sign the agreement, citing the Maine Human Rights Act.
- Sen. Susan Collins supports the Trump administration’s stance, arguing that Title IX should prioritize sex over gender identity to maintain fair competition in girls’ sports.
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The Maine Department of Education has a new deadline after receiving what the U.S. Department of Education called a “final warning” to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning biological males from girls’ sports.
The department sent a letter on Monday, March 31, giving Maine until April 11 to comply, or it will send the case to the Department of Justice.
What was the original deadline?
Maine officials originally had until March 29 to sign an agreement changing state law and policies to prohibit transgender females from competing. Still, according to Bradley Burke, the regional director of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, they have refused to discuss a resolution.
The Trump administration said earlier this month that the Maine Department of Education, Maine Principals’ Association and a high school were each in violation of Trump’s interpretation of Title IX, a law against sex discrimination in education.
The federal investigation came after a public dispute between Trump and Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
The Department of Education said the deal aligns with President Trump’s executive order from January, which states that the government will only recognize two sexes determined at conception.
Is there a refusal to sign?
In a statement last week, Maine School Administrative District 51, which includes the high school found to be in violation of Title IX, said it would not be signing the agreement, citing the Maine Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on gender identity.
“To our students: thank you for your maturity, perseverance and dedication to learning through these distractions. Please continue to lead the way,” the MSAD #51 board of directors said.
The Maine Principals’ Association also refused to sign the agreement, based again on the Maine Human Rights Act.
How is Sen. Susan Collins supporting Trump?
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins supported the Trump administration’s stance in a statement obtained by Fox News.
“It is critically important to treat people who are transgender with respect and dignity,” Collins said in the statement. “But that does not change the fact that Title IX, which was passed in 1972, has greatly expanded opportunities for girls and young women to participate in organized sports at the high school and college levels. It did so, in part, by mandating equal access to athletic resources and facilities on the basis of sex — not on the basis of gender identity. Safe and fair athletic competition has been one of the keys to the success of Title IX. That is why I do not believe that transgender athletes should compete in girls’ and women’s athletics.”
Collins went on to say she will advocate for Maine to receive its fair share of federal funding, but she supports the original intent behind Title IX.
The Maine Department of Education has not responded to the Department of Education’s updated deadline.
