The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a probe of the University of Maine with millions of federal funding on the line following a tiff between President Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills. 

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the agency will review whether the university has violated Title IX “following the state of Maine’s blatant disregard” to adhere to Mr. Trump’s executive order barring male-born athletes from participating in women’s collegiate sports. 

The president’s order requires that all educational programs follow the mandate or face losing all federal funding. 

“President Trump has made it abundantly clear: Taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars will not support institutions that discriminate against women,” Ms. Rollins said in a statement Saturday. “USDA is committed to upholding the President’s executive order, meaning any institution that chooses to disregard it can count on losing future funding.”

The USDA’s Title IX compliance review into whether the University of Maine has engaged in discrimination on the basis of sex for not complying with the president’s order could jeopardize over $100 million in federal funding to the college.

Maine has gone against the executive order, arguing that the state’s decision is in accordance with the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, among other protected classes.

The Agriculture Department’s investigation comes on the heels of a squabble between Mr. Trump and Ms. Mills on Friday when the Democratic governor doubled down on her state’s refusal to comply with the executive action. 

Mr. Trump warned that Ms. Mills should comply or risk losing federal funding. 

“We’ll see you in court,” she said.

“Good, I’ll see you in court,” the president responded. “I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.