DOJ suing Maine over transgender athletes' participation in sports

The Justice Department announced Wednesday it is suing the state of Maine over the state's refusal to ban transgender athletes from participating in women and girls’ sports. President Trump signed an executive order in February calling on the federal government "to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities."

The NCAA changed its policy on transgender athletes after the order was issued, but the group that governs school sports in Maine said it would continue to allow trans girls to compete because the federal action conflicts with state law, and Maine's governor, Janet Mills, also refused to comply with the order, arguing she has a duty to follow state law.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday that her department was taking Maine to court because the state's actions were a violation of Title IX, the statute that prevents sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding. "The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports," Bondi said at a press conference Wednesday, adding the issue "is also about these young women's personal safety."

In a statement Wednesday, Maine's governor said "This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law."

The Trump administration has already attempted to force Maine's compliance with Trump's order by moving to cut off all of the state's funding for public schools over the issue and trying to cut off funding for the state's school lunch programs.