Trump intensifies clash with Maine, files lawsuit regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit following the state's previous legal action against the administration last week.
TroibNews 
On Wednesday, the Trump administration intensified its campaign against transgender athletes by filing a lawsuit against Maine, alleging that the state is violating federal law by not preventing “biological boys” from participating on girls’ sports teams.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit during a press conference held by the Justice Department, where she was accompanied by student athletes who argued that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports contradicts Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal assistance.
“The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports,” Bondi stated. “We believe they are failing to protect women... We are seeking an injunction to get them to stop this, stop what they're doing. That's pretty simple, and we are seeking to have the titles returned to the young women who rightfully won these sports.”
This lawsuit comes on the heels of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump upon his return to office in January, which specifically target “gender ideology” and include measures regarding accommodations for transgender individuals in sports and other areas. It also follows a noteworthy clash between Maine Governor Janet Mills and Trump during a governors’ meeting at the White House in February.
During that discussion, Trump informed Mills that Maine would need to adjust its policies regarding transgender athletes in school sports or risk losing federal funding. Mills responded by asserting she would adhere to the law, stating, “See you in court.”
In fact, Maine preemptively sued the Trump administration last week over the federal government’s move to cut school lunch funding due to the state’s policies on transgender athletes. Recently, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock, appointed by George W. Bush, ordered the Agriculture Department to restore that funding, suggesting federal officials may have overstepped their authority in the funding cut-off directive.
Mills’ office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Idaho was the first state to enact restrictions on transgender athletes back in 2020, and since then, several other states have enacted laws barring transgender students from competing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity.
At the press conference, Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the administration resorted to legal action only after discussions with Maine officials proved fruitless. “I hope Gov. Mills will recognize that her political feud with the president will deprive the students in her state of much more than the right to fair sporting events,” McMahon remarked.
Bondi warned that states like California and Minnesota could soon face similar lawsuits if they do not revise their policies concerning transgender athletes.
As they announced the lawsuit, Bondi and McMahon were accompanied by several women and girls who expressed their frustrations about competing against transgender opponents and, in some cases, sharing locker rooms with transgender teammates.
“I'm frustrated that we have to be here, that we as women have to stand before you all on national television, demanding equal opportunities, demanding privacy in areas of undressing, demanding safety in our sports,” voiced former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.
Although the Justice Department typically refrains from overtly partisan statements, Gaines emphasized the Democratic affiliation of public officials while criticizing their policies regarding transgender women in competitive sports.
“The Democratic Party has really doubled down, tripled down, quadrupled down, on their ridiculous stance,” Gaines declared. “That's sick. It's regressive, is what it is. Know what Gov. Mills is doing, and again, Democratic governors across the nation, is deeply regressive and utterly misogynistic.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit during a press conference held by the Justice Department, where she was accompanied by student athletes who argued that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports contradicts Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal assistance.
“The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports,” Bondi stated. “We believe they are failing to protect women... We are seeking an injunction to get them to stop this, stop what they're doing. That's pretty simple, and we are seeking to have the titles returned to the young women who rightfully won these sports.”
This lawsuit comes on the heels of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump upon his return to office in January, which specifically target “gender ideology” and include measures regarding accommodations for transgender individuals in sports and other areas. It also follows a noteworthy clash between Maine Governor Janet Mills and Trump during a governors’ meeting at the White House in February.
During that discussion, Trump informed Mills that Maine would need to adjust its policies regarding transgender athletes in school sports or risk losing federal funding. Mills responded by asserting she would adhere to the law, stating, “See you in court.”
In fact, Maine preemptively sued the Trump administration last week over the federal government’s move to cut school lunch funding due to the state’s policies on transgender athletes. Recently, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock, appointed by George W. Bush, ordered the Agriculture Department to restore that funding, suggesting federal officials may have overstepped their authority in the funding cut-off directive.
Mills’ office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Idaho was the first state to enact restrictions on transgender athletes back in 2020, and since then, several other states have enacted laws barring transgender students from competing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity.
At the press conference, Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the administration resorted to legal action only after discussions with Maine officials proved fruitless. “I hope Gov. Mills will recognize that her political feud with the president will deprive the students in her state of much more than the right to fair sporting events,” McMahon remarked.
Bondi warned that states like California and Minnesota could soon face similar lawsuits if they do not revise their policies concerning transgender athletes.
As they announced the lawsuit, Bondi and McMahon were accompanied by several women and girls who expressed their frustrations about competing against transgender opponents and, in some cases, sharing locker rooms with transgender teammates.
“I'm frustrated that we have to be here, that we as women have to stand before you all on national television, demanding equal opportunities, demanding privacy in areas of undressing, demanding safety in our sports,” voiced former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.
Although the Justice Department typically refrains from overtly partisan statements, Gaines emphasized the Democratic affiliation of public officials while criticizing their policies regarding transgender women in competitive sports.
“The Democratic Party has really doubled down, tripled down, quadrupled down, on their ridiculous stance,” Gaines declared. “That's sick. It's regressive, is what it is. Know what Gov. Mills is doing, and again, Democratic governors across the nation, is deeply regressive and utterly misogynistic.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
