Funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Maine universities was restored Wednesday following a brief pause by the federal government on Monday. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday as news of that the funding pause had ended broke.
The University of Maine System (UMS) announced Monday that the USDA had temporarily halted funding, apparently in connection to an investigation announced by the agency in February.
The USDA announced publicly on February 22 that it would be initiating a review of UMS’ compliance with Title IV and Title IX, citing “the State of Maine’s blatant disregard for President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14201, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
Title IV refers to a subsection of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of “race, color, or national origin.” Title IX is a federal law barring schools and educational programs from discriminating on the basis of sex.
For FY24, the USDA awarded the University of Maine (UMaine) nearly $30 million for “research and extension” that was used across a variety of program and initiatives.
The USDA’s February press release noted that UMaine has received over $100 million in funding from the agency.
“Compliance with federal law is mandatory for institutions to continue receiving taxpayer funded support, including USDA grants,” the statement said.
[RELATED: Trump Admin’s USDA Pauses Millions in Funding to Maine Universities]
According to UMS, the system was contacted three days after the agency’s initial announcement of its intention to investigate the system, at which time staff proved “timely responses” to the department’s questions.
Its statement suggests that these questions were “not specific to any one UMS university and largely focused on whether biological males could compete on women’s sports teams.”
In verbal and written responses, UMS says that they “confirmed its athletic programs were in compliance with relevant State and Federal laws.”
They went on to say that “universities that are members of the NCAA are also operating in a manner entirely consistent with that association’s recently updated policies, which do not allow for varsity student-athletes assigned male at birth to compete in female sports.”
UMS indicated in their statement that they had no further communication from the USDA regarding their Title IX compliance review until they were forwarded a message on Monday, March 10 alerting them of the funding freeze.
It is also noted that UMS is “unaware” of Title IV compliance reviews being conducted by the USDA or any other federal agency.
“This USDA funding is critically important not only to the University of Maine, but to our farmers and loggers, as well as to the many people who work in Maine’s agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry industries,” Sen. Susan Collins (R) said in a statement Wednesday announcing that funding had been reinstated.
“Now that funding has been restored, the work that the University does in partnership with the many people and communities who depend on these programs can continue,” Sen. Collins wrote.
According to WGME, Gov. Janet Mills’ Office has also issued a statement on the reversal.
“The Governor welcomes the decision by USDA to restore funding to the University of Maine System,” the governor’s office said. “It is a relief to the many students, staff, and faculty who depend on that funding to support cutting-edge research and development, prepare for careers in Maine, and make valuable contributions to our rural communities and our economy.”
“This decision also benefits many Maine farmers, loggers, and others who work in close partnership with UMaine,” her office said. “The Governor extends her appreciation to Sen. Susan Collins for her efforts on behalf of the University of Maine System to ensure this important work continues.”
[RELATED: Trump AG Drops Hammer on Maine Gov Janet Mills: “Maine Should Be on Notice”]
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice warned Maine officials that it is prepared to take legal action if the state continues to allow biological men to compete in women’s sports, a policy the department says violates federal anti-discrimination laws.
In a letter sent to Mills on February 25, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the DoJ will hold states accountable if they defy federal law.
“Requiring girls to compete against boys in sports and athletic events violates Title IX,” Attorney General Bondi wrote, emphasizing that under the U.S. Constitution, federal law takes precedence over conflicting state policies.
so boys are good to play girls sports is what i understanding? just like the trade tariiff, the ukraine peace negot., and the gaza rebuild plan….. all complete grand standing bull shat!!!
How about until the national deficit is zeroed no money to no collage for nut-n.
Taxpayer money to promote more little Marxist students that hate their country.
The ultimate confusion comes if Collins and Mills are standing at the transom of the boat and you only get to pick one of them to go overboard.