Trump admin cuts funding to Maine universities as state defies order to ban trans athletes from womens sports
The US Department of Agriculture is pausing funding to the University of Maine System (UMS), a network of eight public colleges in the state, according to UMS officials.The pause is in response to the state’s recent refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports. The pause in funding comes as the USDA reviews potential Title IX and Title VI violations by the universities, amid the state’s recent refusal to comply with Trump’s executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports.Trump reaffirmed his intent to punish states that continue to allow trans athletes to compete with girls during his March 4 address to a joint session of Congress.Trump’s administration has now acted on that promise. A UMS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday it has been notified its funding will be paused. “An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s ‘awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System,'” the spokesperson said.“The message goes on to state, ‘This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations.Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership.
This pause will remain in effect until further notice.'”The UMS spokesperson says the system told the USDA the universities “were in compliance with relevant state and federal laws and that UMS universities are members of the NCAA,” adding the system is “unaware” of any Title VI violations.However, UMS says it will provide further clarity on the situation after “further analysis is completed.”In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA award...