On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared a temporary halt to funding for the University of Maine System. This decision follows an altercation between President Trump and the state’s governor regarding transgender rights, during which the president threatened to withhold federal funds from the state.
The University of Maine stated on Tuesday that they had received an emailed chain where the Chief Financial Officer of the USDA instructed “all awarding agencies and staff offices to halt all payment disbursements and authorization for additional fund releases to both Columbia University and the University of Maine System” until further notice.
“This halt is temporarily in place as the USDA assesses whether it needs to implement additional measures concerning potential violations of Title VI or Title IX. Kindly undertake all required steps to comply with these instructions from senior management. The suspension will stay active until further notice,” the message went on to say.
In fiscal year 2024, the USDA awarded nearly $30 million to the University of Maine for initiatives including agricultural research, youth development programs, and support for farmers.
Although the department cited potential issues with Title VI or Title IX as reasons for pausing activities, the institution stated that the government hasn’t specified particular grievances. Additionally, they mentioned that their administration has cooperated swiftly with all investigatory questions.
“I am shocked by the USDA’s choice to suspend financial support for the University of Maine System. This action will adversely affect our farmers, stall essential research efforts, and have repercussions for students across Maine,” stated Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).
said on social media
“Once more, our state is under attack for retaliation—simply because our officials are upholding the rule of law.”
In the previous month, Donald Trump and the Governor of Maine, Janet Mills (D),
got into a back-and-forth
regarding his stance on transgender athletes at the White House.
Using an executive order, Trump attempted to prohibit transgender females and girls from joining athletic teams aligned with their gender identity; however, several states like Maine have resisted this move.
“I am adhering to both state and federal laws,” Mills responded to Trump when he questioned whether the governor would follow his executive order.
“We represent federal law enforcement. You should comply since you won’t be receiving federal funding,” Trump stated.
“I’ll see you in court,” Mills replied.
The University of Maine System (UMS) stated that the USDA’s investigations were not targeted at a single UMS institution but primarily centered on their policies concerning transgender athletes.
The university stated that it adhered to both state and federal regulations as well as NCAA rules, noting that these guidelines had recently been updated to prohibit participation of transgender athletes.
According to the statement released by the University of Maine, Columbia University has likewise experienced this reduction in funding.
The Ivy League institution located in New York has previously faced scrutiny from the Trump administration, which claims it did not adequately safeguard students against antisemitism during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests.
The Justice Department’s Special Task Force to Address Antisemitism announced its efforts on Friday.
announced the cancellation
Regarding approximately $400 million in federal grants awarded to Columbia, they cautioned that further reductions might ensue.
On Saturday, federal immigration officials took into custody Mahmoud Khalil, a key figure in Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian protest activities. Khalil, who entered the country lawfully and has yet to be formally accused of any wrongdoing, was detained.
was the initial documented occurrence
from the Trump administration aiming to deport a student activist due to the protests.
The Hill has contacted the USDA and Columbia for additional remarks.
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