The investigation follows Trump’s remarks that federal funding for Maine will be stopped if it does not protect women’s sports from male competition.
The U.S. Department of Education said it has launched an investigation into the Maine Department of Education over its approval of male participation in women’s sporting events.
The investigation is being initiated by the federal department’s Office for Civil Rights “amid allegations that it continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics and that it has denied female athletes female-only intimate facilities,” the department said in a Feb. 21 statement. These actions are in violation of “federal anti-discrimination law.”
The Office for Civil Rights is also investigating Maine School Administrative District 51 following reports that a school under its jurisdiction, Greely High School, “is continuing to allow at least one male student to compete in girls’ categories.”
The investigation was begun after President Donald Trump said in remarks during the Feb. 20 Republican Governor’s Association Dinner that Maine risks losing federal funding if the state continues to allow males to take part in female sporting events.
“I heard men are still playing in Maine,” Trump said. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give any federal money. They’re still saying we want men to play in women’s sports, and I cannot believe they’re doing that. So, we’re not going to give them any federal funding—none whatsoever until they clean that up.”
On Feb.21, Maine Gov. Janet T. Mills issued a response to Trump’s statement, saying the state “will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.”
If Trump goes ahead with pulling back funding, “my administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding,” Mills said.
The Education Department clarified that no state law can override federal anti-discrimination laws and that Maine’s Education Department and its schools are subject to Title IX regulations. Title IX prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex. It established the foundation for women’s athletic programs.
