WASHINGTON — The Trump administration launched an investigation Friday that could result in Maine schools losing $250 million in annual federal funding, The Post has learned — hours after a fiery clash between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and President Trump over transgender athletic policies.
“You better comply! Because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding,” Trump told Mills during an afternoon White House governor’s summit — as she vowed instead to see him in court.
Shortly after, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights dispatched letters to Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and the superintendent of a local school district announcing a formal inquiry into how a transgender pole-vault champion was awarded a state championship earlier this week.
The investigation will review whether state and local policies are in compliance with Title IX federal protections for female athletes, which under an executive order signed by Trump Feb. 5 bars the participation of trans women in girls sports.
“Dear Commissioner Makin: The United States Department of Education’s (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) writes to inform you that it is initiating a directed investigation of the Maine Department of Education,” says the letter from Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
“OCR’s directed investigation will examine whether [Maine School Administrative District] #51 denies equal athletic benefits and opportunities to female athletes through an athletic participation policy that permits biological males to participate in girl’s interscholastic athletics,” Trainor wrote.
“According to credible local reporting, Greely High School, which is within MSAD #51, has knowingly allowed at least one male student athlete to continue competing in sports categories and events designated for girls,” the letter said.
“Indeed, MSAD #51 posted online a statement ‘From the Superintendent’ that the District is ‘following state law as directed by the MDOE’ with regard to ‘Transgender Policies.’”
“Let me be clear,” Trainor said in a statement. “If Maine wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Education Department, it has to follow Title IX. If it wants to forgo federal funds and continue to trample the rights of its young female athletes, that, too, is its choice. OCR will do everything in its power to ensure taxpayers are not funding blatant civil rights violators.”
The controversy began when a teenaged contestant named Katie, competing for Greely High School, won Monday’s Class B girls’ state championship in pole-vaulting by a wide margin.
The transgender athlete cleared 10’6″ — six inches above the second-place finisher, Newsweek reported.
The obscure athletic contest made Maine the first test case for enforcement of Trump’s transgender policies after Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby drew national attention to the result.
“Two years ago, John placed FIFTH in boys’ pole vaulting. Yet, this year (when competing against girls) this unfair win propelled his school’s girls’ team to win the overall state championship,” Libby tweeted, with side-by-side photos.
Trump and Mills went at it over the Pine Tree State’s stance hours before the investigation launched.
“Is Maine here, the governor of Maine?” Trump asked at the event in the State Dining Room.
“Yeah, I’m here,” Mills replied.
“Are you not going to comply with it?” Trump asked of the transgender policies.
“I’ll comply with state and federal law,” she said.
“We are the federal law,” the president told her, adding: “You better do it — you better do it or you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t. And by the way, your population… doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports. So you better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding.”
“See you in court!” the governor responded.
“Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” Trump declared.
“And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
Greely High School is located in Cumberland, Maine, about 10 miles north of Portland. One of the wealthiest towns in the state, Cumberland voted overwhelmingly for former President Joe Biden in last year’s presidential election.
Mills isn’t alone among Maine Democrats in pushing back on GOP-led criticism of the transgender athlete.
Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau scolded Libby after drawing attention to the issue, saying, “All kids, including transgender students, deserve better than to be used as political fodder for internet bullies.”
