The Trump administration and Maine engaged in a legal battle concerning federal funding for Maine's child nutrition program. The dispute arose from a disagreement over Maine's compliance with Title IX, specifically regarding transgender athletes in school sports, following President Trump's executive order on the issue. The federal government froze funding for administrative and technological functions in Maine schools.
The frozen funds impacted the state's child nutrition program, potentially cutting off over $1.8 million in current fiscal year funds and an additional $900,000 from previous years. The program also stood to lose approximately $3 million in anticipated funds for summer meal programs.
Maine filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the federal government's decision to freeze funds. A federal judge initially ordered the unfreezing of funds, finding Maine likely to succeed in its challenge. Ultimately, the Trump administration settled the lawsuit, halting its efforts to freeze funding and leading Maine to drop its legal action. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey expressed his displeasure that a lawsuit was necessary to secure the legally obligated funds.
The settlement ensured the continued flow of federal funds to Maine's child nutrition program, preventing disruptions to the feeding of children and vulnerable adults. The settlement avoided further litigation and restored vital funding to the program.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday agreed to halt all efforts to freeze funds intended for a Maine child nutrition program after initially suspending those dollars due to a disagreement between the state and Trump over transgender athletes.
In response, the state will drop its lawsuit that had been filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced.
“It’s unfortunate that my office had to resort to federal court just to get USDA to comply with the law and its own regulations,” Frey said in a statement. ”But we are pleased that the lawsuit has now been resolved and that Maine will continue to receive funds as directed by Congress to feed children and vulnerable adults.”
An email message seeking comment was sent Friday to the Agriculture Department.
The settlement closes a dispute first sparked by the federal government’s decision to freeze federal funds to Maine for certain administrative and technological functions in the state’s schools.
A letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained that the decision stemmed from a disagreement between the state and federal governments over whether Maine was complying with Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. Trump had accused Maine of failing to comply with his executive order barring transgender athletes from sports.
Soon after the secretary’s letter was sent, Maine’s Department of Education could not access several sources of federal funds for a state nutrition program, according to the court’s written order.
Maine quickly sued the Trump administration, where the state’s attorneys argued that the child nutrition program received or was due to receive more than $1.8 million for the current fiscal year. Prior year funds that were awarded but are currently inaccessible total more than $900,000, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit also said that the program was anticipating about $3 million that is typically awarded every July for summer meal program sponsor administration and meal reimbursement.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze funds last month after finding that Maine was likely to succeed in its legal challenge.
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