Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a pause in federal funds designated for certain educational programs in Maine, citing violations of Title IX. This decision was communicated in a letter sent by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Maine Governor Janet Mills.
"In order to continue to receive taxpayer dollars from USDA, the state of Maine must demonstrate compliance with Title IX which protects female student athletes from having to compete with or against or having to appear unclothed before males,” Secretary Rollins outlined in the correspondence.
Additionally, Secretary Rollins mentioned an extensive review of grants issued by the Biden Administration to the Maine Department of Education. “Many of these grants appear to be wasteful, redundant, or otherwise against the priorities of the Trump Administration. USDA will not stand for the Biden Administration’s bloated bureaucracy and will instead focus on a Department that is farmer-first and without a leftist social agenda,” she stated.
The USDA's actions align with the directive of President Donald J. Trump to ensure compliance with federal laws when distributing taxpayer funds. The USDA’s decision is supported by recent initiatives from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enforce Title IX regulations. The USDA assured that the pause in funds would not affect federal feeding programs or direct assistance to citizens, affirming that "if a child was fed today, they will be fed tomorrow."
