President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration would withhold Maine federal funding following the news of a transgender-identifying boy taking first place in girls’ pole vaulting at Maine’s Class B state championship.
In January, Maine’s Department of Education said it would not comply with Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports.” Additionally, the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) said earlier this month that the state would allow males to continue competing in girls’ and women’s sports, again ignoring Trump’s order.
“I heard men are still playing in Maine,” Trump said on Thursday. “We’re not gonna give any federal money. They are still saying, ‘We want men to play in women’s sports.’ And I cannot believe they’re doing that.”
“We’re not gonna give them any federal funding — none whatsoever, until they clean that up,” Trump emphasized.
???? President Trump announces Maine will not receive federal funding until they comply with the executive order keeping men out of women’s sports pic.twitter.com/OZqBHyW1QB
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 21, 2025
Maine Republican state lawmaker Laurel Libby drew attention to the controversy on Monday, writing on Facebook, “Two years ago, [boy’s name] tied for 5th place in boys pole vault. Tonight, ‘[girl’s name]’ won 1st place in the girls’ Maine State Class B Championship.” (Libby has since said that the student actually competed as a boy just one year ago, not two years ago.)
Screenshot: Facebook
In a statement sent to The Daily Wire earlier this week, Libby asked for Trump to intervene for the sake of female student-athletes.
“The decision by the Maine Principals’ Association to continue allowing male athletes to compete against female athletes in school athletic competitions is outrageous,” she said. “Not only does their decision violate President Trump’s February 5 Executive Order but it jeopardizes the safety and privacy of female athletes, all while allowing male athletes to take medals, trophies, and podium spots away from women, effectively erasing them.”
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“I urge the Trump Administration to move swiftly to ensure that female athletes in Maine can once again compete on a level playing field, preserving the integrity of women’s sports,” Libby added.
On Thursday, the lawmaker celebrated Trump’s intervention on X, writing, “President Trump pledges to step in to protect girls’ sports in Maine and clean up the failure by both the Maine Principals’ Association and the Maine Democrat Majority!”
Related: Boy Wins Girls’ Pole Vault Championship In Maine Days After State Pledged To Defy Trump Order