ORONO — The University of Maine System has officially been found to be in compliance with Title IX.
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs – including athletics.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement comes nearly a month after the agency first launched a compliance review.
The review followed President Donald Trump’s threats to cut all federal funding to Maine after an exchange with Gov. Janet Mills over the state’s compliance with Title IX, specifically Mills' refusal to enforce Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports in public schools and universities.
During the review, the UMaine System said they were made aware that the USDA temporarily paused all funding to the school system. The funding was then restored the following day, according to a statement from Sen. Susan Collins.
However, the USDA stated in its announcement Wednesday that the university has had access to the funding since February 26.
According to the USDA, the University of Maine specifically confirmed that they:
- Do not permit a male student-athlete to identify as a female student-athlete to establish individual eligibility for NCAA-sanctioned women’s sport
- Do not permit a male to participate in individual or team contact sports with females.
- Comply with NCAA regulations and do not permit a male student athlete to participate in NCAA-sanctioned women’s sports.
“Any false claim by the UMaine can, and will, result in onerous and even potentially criminal financial liability,” the USDA’s statement reads. “UMaine’s decision to side with sanity is a win for women and girls in Maine.”
In response, UMaine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy said the UMS system has always maintained compliance with state and federal laws and NCAA rules.
“The University of Maine System has always maintained its compliance with State and Federal laws and with NCAA rules, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture also affirmed in a press release [Wednesday],” said Chancellor Malloy. “We are relieved to put the Department’s Title IX compliance review behind us so the land-grant University of Maine and our statewide partners can continue to leverage USDA and other essential federal funds to strengthen and grow our natural resource economy and dependent rural communities through world-class education, research and extension.”
A UMS representative tells us the statement is “the extent of what [UMS] is prepared to share about this matter at this point.”
“The choice for the rest of Maine is simple,” the USDA said in its announcement. “Protect equal opportunities for women, as required by law, or lose funding.”
