The U.S. Department of Justice has warned Maine officials that it is prepared to take legal action if the state continues to require girls to compete against boys in sports, a policy the department says violates federal antidiscrimination laws.
In a letter dated Feb. 25 to Gov. Janet Mills (D), U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the DOJ will hold states accountable if they defy federal law. Bondi cited Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, including athletics.
“Requiring girls to compete against boys in sports and athletic events violates Title IX,” Bondi wrote, emphasizing that under the U.S. Constitution, federal law takes precedence over conflicting state policies.
The letter follows a directive from President Donald Trump ordering the Justice Department and the Department of Education to enforce federal protections ensuring that girls have equal opportunities in sports. According to Bondi, Maine officials, including Mills, initially indicated they would comply but later reversed course.
[RELATED: Trump and Mills Go Head to Head Over Trans Row [VIDEO]…]
Bondi is referring to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) and the Maine Principals Association (MPA), two groups that have issued memos instructing Maine’s public school administrators to essentially ignore Trump’s order in favor of obedience to state law.
The MPA, which governs high school athletics, has openly flouted Trump’s order by forcing high school girls to compete athletically against high school males on multiple occasions since the order came down.
Mills confirmed last week that she supported the MDOE and MPA’s resistance to Trump’s orders in a high profile spat with the Commander in Chief.
The governor declined to answer questions from the Maine Wire today at the State House.
Bondi referenced Mills’ comments from the luncheon with Trump suggesting that the federal government’s enforcement of Title IX in this context was an overreach. However, she insisted the administration was acting within its constitutional authority.
“The Constitution requires states to follow the supreme law of the land,” Bondi wrote, pushing back against claims that the administration was behaving like “a dictator.”
The letter also revealed that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into the MDOE, while the Department of Health and Human Services’ civil rights division is conducting a similar probe. If those investigations confirm that Maine’s policies violate Title IX, Bondi warned that the federal government stands ready to sue or revoke federal funding.
“The Department of Justice does not want to have to sue states or state entities, or to seek termination of their federal funds,” she wrote. “We only want states and state entities to comply with the law.”
Perhaps in anticipation of the investigations that a Trump Administration would bring, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued a Jan. 10 directive to some state employees at DHHS instructing them to refuse cooperation with investigators from the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorney’s office.
[RELATED: Maine AG to State Employees: Do Not Cooperate with Justice Department Investigators…]
This latest warning comes as the Justice Department takes legal action against Illinois and New York over separate disputes involving immigration law. Bondi said the administration “stands ready to sue states and state entities that defy federal anti-discrimination laws.”
Last month, a New York Times/Ipsos poll found that just 21 percent of Americans support policies requiring female athletes to compete against male athletes who identify as women.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="35927 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=35927">44 Comments
She is no stranger to losing in court:
https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2006/a5700-04-opn.html
Did you Smile for that Mug Shot!
Thank you Mark. Janet has quite a history with drinking/driving etc. Very interesting.
Not soon enough!
The way Mills is handling this plus Laurel Libby getting censured will hopefully get the Democrats out of the way for the future. I’m pissed and a lot of Mainers are too.
Now I get it. mills is a golden shower freak, she loves getting pissed on by the people in charge. Makes perfect sense now.
Mills just be the bigger person and admit your wrong. Believe me your not going to lose any more supporters, there’s none left.
I think Pam Bondi and President Trump might be interested in the past cocaine issues of Maine’s governor and how she got away with it!
Wgme is censoring/canceling comments on Representative Laurel Libby’s censure vote. No upvotes allowed on the comments, and inability to add comments. I’m not surprised.
One person mentioned an event/protest on Saturday, but no other, specific info on where and when. If anyone knows, I’d appreciate the info. Those in ME gov who are SILENCING US for truth (censure means Rep Libby cannot speak OR vote!!) need to know that the majority of us are on Rep Libby’s side, and will not be silenced.
Jesus did you see the 250lb. BULL DYKE STATE TROOPER that is Crack Grannys Security …. Her BMI is way out of Wack …Let us also re-open the Charlie Russell Murder investigation . There is evidence that suggests that Janet ordered his murder to cover her involvement in drug trafficking .
Read our laws. Presidential executive orders impact federal agencies and contractors – not state laws. Emergency regulations can and do impact states.
Janet, don’t back down. Show em (the FEDS), how TOUGH you really are. Just like that boy, I mean girl did, who literally beat the crap out of a GIRL at Mount Desert High after they got off the bus, with the bus driver, principal standing there watching acting like a couple of referee’s from the WWE. Story and video here: https://thepostmillennial.com/trans-maine-high-schooler-with-prior-sexual-harassment-allegations-brutally-attacks-female-classmate-report
Hopefully Mills gets run over by Trumps DOJ, the MPA and the dems defying federal law should wake up the voters in Maine to get rid of these nutjob democrats! C’mon man!
Pingree says it’s unconstitutional to use Federal Funding for political reasons. Well, Constitutional or not, money has been used like this for years to force drinking age, speed limits, EPA standards and many other things.
Mills want to take Trump to court. Let her pay for it. She can start a GO FUND ME page and see how far she gets with that.
Let’s talk about State’s Rights. Better yet, look it up for yourself. I have mentioned states taking federal money before, and I pointed out the ramifications of that. i.e. what is expected of the issuing (money/funds) body. If the State of Maine is prepared to stand on its own both financially (no assistance from US Government) and legally ; then perhaps it shall benefit democracy at the state level allowing the people of Maine decide this issue themselves. Just a thought
What would be great is if the first place MENS pole vault champion casually walks over during a meet and declare he is a girl, then beat the other guy at his own game. That kids parents should be ashamed of him competing against girls. Oh well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Mental health is the answer.
I had heard rumors about Mills’ drug past but never was able to substantiate it – it was well covered up. Why didn’t the LePage campaign use any of this information – assuming LePage wanted to be elected Governor again?
There’s alot wrong in the state of Maine…. lets not forget Shenna Bellows who wanted POTUS name off of our ballot…. then Mills, who gets spanked in front of the world, by POTUS… ,always and it seems forever, Collins who is a RINO fence sitter. Finally we have someone who will listen to us from Washington. Make Maine Great Again.
Maybe Maine should secede from the Union and apply for foreign aid. Could be our only hope! These democrat freaks have trashed the state beyond repair! C’mon man!
i didnt vote for warnings to be issued, i voted for the corruption to be put to a screaming halt! drop the hammer pam bondi!! you look weak not coming out swinging!! prove your not just a pretty face DEI hire!! realse the epstien files!! no words only actions its simple!!
In Maine 57 of its 192 school districts have policies that exclude parents from knowing whether their children start identifying as transgender. Is yours on the list? Check out the story @ The Federalist.
Janet, FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsL93xvucgU
And all so some loser boy can bet up on girls and feel like he won. I’ll bet mom and dad are some proud.
Priceless entertainment…
Laurel Libby should run for govenor!
Maine schools at all levels will be banned from any interstate athletic or championship competitions.
She already kicked a small population of children out of school, what’s a few more to her? She’ll allocate funds to trans priorities but none to make sure all children have equal access to educational rights/resources. Please sign this: https://chng.it/vgTBGS92m5
The bigger issue is that going along with boys pretending to be girls is wrong.
Period.
The march against Mills is set for 1:00 P.M. 03-02-2025 at the Maine state capitol.
Here is the post from facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122184898436109100&set=gm.1056112739881084&idorvanity=540271748131855
I hope the Trump administration has been made aware of what Mills has done to Rep. Laurel Libby as well.
@becky ,@sambrody
Yeah, and look into the connections between jabber, the brother mills attorneys and connections to the illegal Chinese grows, the cmp corridor as well as the taking / stealing of water front property in bingham, Emdone and other places around the state and somehow putting in in the hands of…. cmp…? Hummm DIG DIG DIG PEOPLE ! DIG harder Steve!
Our Dictator wants a lawsuit. Our Public Sector Workers’ Party will ensure we taxpayers pay for their arrogance. This could only happen in a one-party state
End democrat corruption in Maine.
Didn’t Mills get busted for crack / cocaine in NJ years ago?
Bubba Doughty for Governor. Better yet ZZ TOP for Governor.
Question – how many transgender athletes are there in Maine high schools? Answer, 3.
Question – how many homeless veterans are there in Maine? Answer – over 300.
Please tell me which one is a more pressing issue to you.
Mark: not sure we’re talking the same Janet Mills. Our governor (let be known that I’m not a fan of our governor) is Janet T. Mills. The one listed in the link is Janet l. Mills????
Wonderful. Now do Vermont.
This is shaping up to be so much fun. Florida Hotties taking down Maine’s Uglies. Love it
Mark — different middle initial on the cocaine charge, but in reserving the elevator for herself without installing another one, she is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Enforced by — Pam Bondi. https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/
Mills is too stupid and arrogant to admit she stepped in sh!t BIG TIME! Trump will destroy Mills in court! Mills has already bankrupted the state, there is no money to fight this and she knows it! Hopefully this is the hill Mills’ career dies on!
Can Bondi send a stern letter?
What about the tongs?