Maine Sues U.S.D.A. Over Funding for School Meals

The State of Maine has filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), asserting that the agency unlawfully suspended funding for the state’s school meal programs. The lawsuit, submitted on Monday to the U.S. District Court, claims that the USDA’s actions pose a serious risk to vital nutrition services for schoolchildren and were driven by political motivations tied to the ongoing conflict between Maine and the Trump administration regarding the rights of transgender athletes.

This legal challenge marks a significant development in the growing tensions between Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, and the Trump administration. Their dispute traces back to a public rebuke from President Donald Trump earlier this year, when he criticized Governor Mills at a White House event for the state’s stance on allowing transgender athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

The administration has made it clear that it believes Maine’s laws and policies on transgender inclusion violate federal education law. Specifically, the USDA has pointed to Title IX — the landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal assistance — as justification for the funding freeze. According to the federal government, Maine’s anti-discrimination law, which includes protections for transgender individuals, and its policy permitting transgender girls to play on girls’ sports teams, are inconsistent with Title IX as interpreted under the current administration’s guidance.

In a letter addressed to Governor Mills last week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the Trump administration’s position unequivocally. “A state cannot openly defy federal statutes that prohibit discrimination in education and still expect to receive federal funds without consequence,” Rollins wrote, according to the court filing. “This is merely the first step. You are free to end this process at any time by aligning your policies with federal standards that safeguard women and girls.”

However, Maine’s Attorney General, Aaron Frey, strongly refutes this interpretation of federal law. The state’s lawsuit contends that the USDA’s decision was both procedurally flawed and substantively unlawful. Frey argues that Title IX does not bar transgender athletes from participating in sports teams that correspond to their gender identity. On the contrary, he points out, several federal court decisions have affirmed that civil rights protections extend to transgender individuals, including in school athletics.

The complaint emphasizes that the USDA failed to follow the proper administrative protocols before freezing the funds. Normally, the agency would need to provide the state with notice and an opportunity to respond — steps that were allegedly bypassed in this case. The funding in question supports critical operations of Maine’s school nutrition program, including salaries for staff, as well as the costs of essential equipment like phones and computers. The sudden cutoff of these funds, the lawsuit warns, could severely disrupt the program’s ability to serve meals to thousands of children across the state.

“The Trump administration is attempting to frame this as a matter of protecting children, but in reality, they are putting children at risk by unlawfully withholding funds used to feed them,” said Attorney General Frey in a public statement. “By taking this to court, we are sending a clear message: Maine will not be coerced into abandoning its legal obligations or compromising its values to appease a political agenda.”

The state is now asking the court to issue an emergency injunction that would require the federal government to reinstate the funding while the case is being considered. Without such an order, Maine argues, its school meal program could face immediate and widespread consequences, including interruptions in food distribution and layoffs of staff who manage the logistics of delivering meals to students.

Legal experts say this case could become a significant test of how far the federal government can go in enforcing compliance with its interpretations of civil rights law through the withholding of federal grants. It also highlights a growing national debate over the intersection of gender identity, sports participation, and the scope of anti-discrimination protections under Title IX — an issue that has sparked legal challenges and legislation in several states in recent years.

President Trump has made the issue of transgender athletes a central part of his education policy platform, often framing it as a defense of fairness in women’s sports. In February, he signed an executive order barring transgender women from competing in women’s categories in school athletics, claiming it was necessary to preserve the integrity of female sports. Maine’s refusal to implement that order has now become the focal point of a broader legal and political battle.

Governor Mills has so far stood firm in her support for the state’s existing policies and has vowed to defend the rights of all students, including transgender youth. Her office declined to comment in detail on the ongoing litigation but reiterated the state’s commitment to equality and inclusion. “We believe that all Maine students deserve access to school programs without fear of discrimination,” a spokesperson for the governor said.

Meanwhile, advocates for LGBTQ+ rights have rallied behind the state, praising the lawsuit as a bold move to protect vulnerable students from federal overreach. “What’s happening here is an attempt to use children’s access to food as leverage to force compliance with discriminatory policies,” said Taylor Mills, policy director for Equality Maine. “It’s not just morally wrong — it’s legally questionable.”

The USDA has not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the agency said only that the department stands by its enforcement of federal law and will continue to review the matter.

The case could move quickly given the emergency nature of the funding request. If the court grants Maine’s motion for a temporary injunction, the state may be able to avoid the most immediate disruptions to its school meal program. But the broader legal battle — over how Title IX is interpreted, and how far the federal government can go in pressuring states to conform — is likely to unfold over months, if not longer.

As the standoff continues, Maine officials remain adamant that they will not compromise on their commitment to civil rights. “We will defend our laws, our children, and our communities,” said Attorney General Frey. “And we will not allow political threats to dictate how we uphold the principles of equality and justice.”