The highly publicized heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Governor Janet Mills at a White House event for the National Governors Association in February has had adverse consequences for the state of Maine. President Trump was not happy with Governor Mills defiance and refusal to comply with his executive order to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports. After President Trump threatened to cut funding for Maine, governor Mill’s response was “see you in court.” This statement has become popular in advocacy efforts for transgender people and even used as a slogan in rallies and has been printed on t-shirts to support a statewide transgender advocacy and support organization, MaineTransnet. 

The exchange created tensions across the state and polarized Mainers, with some supporting Mill’s stance to protect transgender athletes from discrimination, while others protested in Augusta on March 1st, holding posters that read “impeach Mills” and “Mills has to go” and “save girls sports.” Political experts are also weighing in on the potential risk to  her political future. Most importantly, however,  is what the loss of federal funding could mean for Maine. 

Maine received about $250 million from the federal government for the 2024/2025 school year for technical programs, school nutrition and special education. The cuts would negatively affect these programs.  Students with disabilities could potentially stop receiving inclusive access to education, as services geared towards them are funded through the federal government under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

The University of Maine has paused all new financial assistance to new graduate students due to the uncertainty of federal funding. They have put a hold on new offers to research assistants  and fellows while they wait to assess funding for 2025/2026. 

After the heated exchange in Washington DC, the Department Of Education ordered an investigation against the Maine Department of Education, claiming that it violated the Title IX law which ensures equal opportunity for female athletes. However, the president does not have the sole authority to withhold federal funds to impose policies. 

“However you feel about a policy, the president does not have the power, just because of his executive order, to block funding to the states,” said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree in the Maine Morning Star. 

The federal government has since issued a final warning that Maine has until April 11^th to remove all transgender women athletes in women-only sports or face federal funding cuts.