A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze crucial federal funding meant for Maine's child nutrition programs, which had been suspended amid a political standoff over transgender athlete participation in school sports.
US district court judge John Woodcock issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, siding with Maine’s state officials who argued that withholding the money was unlawful and harmed schoolchildren.
The dispute began when the Trump administration moved to punish Maine for its refusal to enforce an executive order banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams, citing alleged violations of Title IX , the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education, according to news agency AP.
The funding in question, which exceeds $1.8 million for the current fiscal year, covers administrative and technological support for school meal programs , with another $3 million anticipated in July for summer meal reimbursements.
According to court filings cited by AP, more than $900,000 from prior year grants is also inaccessible due to the freeze.
The lawsuit, filed by Maine attorney general Aaron Frey, argued that the department of agriculture had bypassed required procedures before freezing the funds. “This is aid used to feed schoolchildren,” Frey stressed in the complaint, reported NPR.org.
The confrontation escalated following a February 21 White House meeting, where US President Trump pressed governor Janet Mills to comply with his executive order. When Mills replied she would follow state and federal law, Trump shot back, “You’d better comply… Otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding,” to which Mills responded, “See you in court”, according to news agency Reuters.
The USDA’s decision to freeze funding came days later, with agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins warning in an April 2 letter that the state's “defiance of federal law” would result in paused funding for administrative school functions.
Meanwhile, the education department announced plans to strip Maine of $250 million in K-12 education funds and referred the state to the Justice Department for enforcement proceedings, reported Reuters.
However, judge Woodcock’s order does not directly resolve the broader Title IX dispute but ensures that essential nutrition funding is restored while legal arguments continue. He acknowledged the case's politically charged backdrop but emphasized the importance of protecting services for children in need.
Maine's education officials remain firm in their stance, stating that the state's 2021 law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Assistant attorney general Sarah Forster previously told the education department that Title IX does not bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ teams.
US district court judge John Woodcock issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, siding with Maine’s state officials who argued that withholding the money was unlawful and harmed schoolchildren.
The dispute began when the Trump administration moved to punish Maine for its refusal to enforce an executive order banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams, citing alleged violations of Title IX , the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education, according to news agency AP.
The funding in question, which exceeds $1.8 million for the current fiscal year, covers administrative and technological support for school meal programs , with another $3 million anticipated in July for summer meal reimbursements.
According to court filings cited by AP, more than $900,000 from prior year grants is also inaccessible due to the freeze.
The lawsuit, filed by Maine attorney general Aaron Frey, argued that the department of agriculture had bypassed required procedures before freezing the funds. “This is aid used to feed schoolchildren,” Frey stressed in the complaint, reported NPR.org.
The confrontation escalated following a February 21 White House meeting, where US President Trump pressed governor Janet Mills to comply with his executive order. When Mills replied she would follow state and federal law, Trump shot back, “You’d better comply… Otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding,” to which Mills responded, “See you in court”, according to news agency Reuters.
The USDA’s decision to freeze funding came days later, with agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins warning in an April 2 letter that the state's “defiance of federal law” would result in paused funding for administrative school functions.
Meanwhile, the education department announced plans to strip Maine of $250 million in K-12 education funds and referred the state to the Justice Department for enforcement proceedings, reported Reuters.
However, judge Woodcock’s order does not directly resolve the broader Title IX dispute but ensures that essential nutrition funding is restored while legal arguments continue. He acknowledged the case's politically charged backdrop but emphasized the importance of protecting services for children in need.
Maine's education officials remain firm in their stance, stating that the state's 2021 law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Assistant attorney general Sarah Forster previously told the education department that Title IX does not bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ teams.
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