Trump v. Maine: DOJ sues state over trans athletes in women's sports

The Department of Justice is suing the state of Maine over its policies on transgender athletes and women's sports

The lawsuit is the latest escalation in a months-long dispute between the Trump administration and Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills over the issue

The DOJ filed the suit Wednesday, claiming Maine is violating Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education

Under the Trump administration's interpretation, sex refers to biological sex assigned at birth, not gender identity

The administration argues by allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports, it violates Title IX by undermining protections for female athletes

The administration says the state of Maine is defying President Trump's executive order, banning transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports

The state of Maine is discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women's sports

Pretty basic stuff. Maine's leadership has refused to comply at every turn

So now we have no other choice. We are taking them to court

Alongside Bondi at the press conference was former swimmer Riley Gaines and fencer Stephanie Turner

who made headlines for kneeling in protest during a match against a transgender opponent

State officials in Maine maintain that Title IX does not prohibit transgender athletes

from participating in female sports. In a letter to the Department of Education last week

Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Foster wrote Nothing in the law prohibits schools from allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls and women sports teams

The lawsuit comes after this exchange between President Trump and Governor Janet Mills over

the issue during a bipartisan governor's meeting at the White House back in February

But I understand Maine. Is Maine here, the governor of Maine? Are you not going to comply with it

I'm complying with state and federal laws. Well, we are the federal law

You better comply because otherwise you're not getting any federal funding. See you in court

Every state, good, I'll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one

The White House threatened to withhold federal education funds from Maine, and the USDA announced a funding freeze last week

The state of Maine sued, and a district court judge ruled Friday

the freeze must be lifted while that legal battle plays out, separate from the DOJ's lawsuit

The controversy is causing division inside the state. This week, one main school district voted unanimously to update its policies

to bar transgender athletes from girls' sports in line with the Trump administration

The superintendent confirmed the change Monday. The issue on a national scale, currently 26 states have laws or policies in place

that prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls' school sports. And according to a New York Times poll

79% of Americans say biological males should not participate in women's athletic events

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