The U.S. Department of Justice today announced it is filing a civil lawsuit against the Maine Department of Education, alleging the state is violating Title IX by allowing biological males to participate in female sports programs.
Speaking at a press conference, US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maine is “discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women’s sports.”
Flanked by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Maine State Representative Laurel Libby, women’s sports advocates, and student-athletes, Bondi asserted that the state’s policies violate federal law and endanger female athletes.
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“This is a violation of Title IX,” Bondi declared. “The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports… This is also about these young women’s personal safety.”
Bondi outlined a timeline of events and alleged prior attempts to resolve the issue without litigation. She claimed the DOJ and other departments had “exhausted every other remedy,” including notifying Maine of infractions, urging compliance, stripping grants, and conducting investigations through the Department of Education and HHS, both of which reportedly found violations.
Specific examples cited included:
- February 2024: A biological male allegedly won a women’s 5K ski race with a time that would have placed 43rd among male competitors.
- February 2025: A biological male reportedly won a women’s pole vaulting competition, displacing a female athlete from qualifying for regional championships.
Bondi referenced a February 21, 2025, exchange where President Trump confronted Maine Governor Janet Mills on the issue, with Mills responding, “We’ll see you in court.”
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Furthermore, Bondi read from a letter attributed to the Maine Attorney General and Department of Education, dated March 2025, which stated Maine would not sign a proposed resolution agreement and saw no prohibition in Title IX against allowing transgender girls on female sports teams. “Well, they must not be reading the same Title IX that we’re reading,” Bondi commented.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to compel Maine to cease allowing biological males in women’s sports and associated facilities like restrooms and locker rooms. The DOJ is also seeking the restoration of athletic titles to female athletes who lost to transgender competitors and is considering actions to retroactively recover federal funding provided to Maine during its alleged non-compliance.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon echoed Bondi’s statements, confirming the Department of Education’s investigation found Maine “continues to willfully violate Title IX and to strip the Civil Rights of female athletes.”
She referenced President Trump’s February 5th executive order on “keeping men out of women’s sports” and reiterated that Maine had refused multiple opportunities to change its policies.
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“Our office for civil rights opened an investigation… [and] confirmed Maine’s Title IX violations,” McMahon said. “Compliance with federal civil rights law is a universal prerequisite for receiving Federal funding… Mills will definitely get her wish [to be seen in court].”
The speakers praised the athletes present, including Riley Gaines, Zoe Hutchison, and Cassidy Carlisle, for their advocacy.
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