DOJ files lawsuit against Maine claiming state violated Title IX

Trump, Maine politician hostility reported

Tense moments betwixt Trump, Maine politician connected transgender enforcement order, reporters say 02:56

Washington — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that the Justice Department is filing a civilian suit against Maine's Department of Education for "discriminating against women by failing to support women successful women's sports" successful what she alleged is simply a usurpation of Title IX.

"The Department of Justice volition not beryllium by erstwhile women are discriminated against successful sports," Bondi said. "This is astir sports, this is besides astir these young womens' idiosyncratic safety."

The determination marks an escalation betwixt the Trump medication and Maine implicit the issue. President Trump signed an enforcement order successful February to prohibition transgender girls and women from competing connected sports teams that lucifer their sex identity, mandating that Title IX, the national instrumentality banning enactment favoritism successful schools, beryllium interpreted arsenic prohibiting the information of transgender girls and women successful pistillate sports. President Trump said states not successful compliance would jeopardize immoderate national backing they receive.

Then, successful a tense infinitesimal betwixt Mr. Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, aboriginal successful February, the president threatened that her authorities wouldn't get national backing if it didn't comply with the enforcement bid barring transgender athletes from competing connected women's sports teams. Mills replied, "See you successful court."

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who appeared alongside Bondi connected Wednesday, said "I anticipation Gov. Mills volition admit that her governmental feud with the president volition deprive the students successful her authorities of overmuch much than the close to just sporting events."

The lawyer wide outlined that the Justice Department had "exhausted each different remedy," saying it has "repeatedly notified Maine of its infractions and urged them to remedy the concern to support women." Bondi noted that the medication has stripped grants to Maine done different agencies, and would "continue to combat for women."

The national authorities said successful its suit filed successful Maine's national tribunal that the state's Department of Education is "openly and defiantly flouting anti-discrimination instrumentality by enforcing policies that necessitate girls to vie against boys successful diversion competitions designated exclusively for girls," arguing that the signifier violates Title IX's "core protections."
It cited 3 examples of boys participating successful girls sports. 

"The United States accordingly files this enactment to halt Maine's unapologetic sex-discrimination against pistillate pupil athletes," the Justice Department said successful the lawsuit. 

Last week, the authorities of Maine secured a impermanent restraining bid against the Trump administration, blocking the Agriculture Department from "terminating, freezing, oregon different interfering with the State's entree to national funds based connected alleged Title IX violations without pursuing the process required by national statute." The suit was brought by Maine aft the Trump medication chopped funds for administrative and technological funds successful the state's schools. 

The Justice Department's actions against Maine whitethorn beryllium followed by akin moves successful different states, Bondi said. 

"We're looking astatine Minnesota, we're looking astatine California," Bondi said. "We're looking astatine many, galore states, but they are the apical 2 that should beryllium connected notice."