‘We are taking them to court.’ US Attorney General announces lawsuit against Maine over Title IX
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a civil lawsuit against the state, days after the state refused to sign a resolution agreement, saying what women have been through in Maine is “horrific.”
Updated: 10:03 AM EDT Apr 16, 2025
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi held a press conference Wednesday morning to announce enforcement actions against the Maine Department of Educating for violating Title IX, saying Maine is discriminating against women.”What they have been through is horrific,” Bondi said, talking about women in Maine. In a copy of the release obtained by Maine’s Total Coverage from inside the press briefing room minutes before the press conference, the Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against the state of Maine for “failure to comply with federal law.”The lawsuit itself, filed Wednesday in federal court, is 31 pages.The release says the DOJ “will use every legal tool available to remedy these violations and protect women’s civil rights.The release cites two different examples of violations (these are quoted from the release):In February 2025, a biological male won first place in pole vault at Maine’s indoor Track and Field meet. He beat every female by a significant margin, qualifying him for regional championships – taking a spot from a female athlete. “Shame on him,” Bondi said during the press conference.In February 2024, a biological male started competing in female ski and cross country races in Maine. He placed first in the women’s 5k with a time that would have ranked 43rd among menA post about the pole vault athlete, including a photograph, was shared by Rep. Laurel Libby on Feb. 17, 2025, helping put Maine in the national spotlight about the issue.Libby was on stage for Wednesday’s press conference with Bondi, along with several other people from Maine. She called it “unfortunate” that the lawsuit was needed. She called on school boards across Maine to vote to align with Title IX, as the MSAD 70 board did on Monday. Bondi said any district in Maine that votes to comply with Title IX will be exempt from federal action, though it was unclear how that would play out. Gender identity is also a protected category under the Maine Civil Rights Act.”We are going to continue to fight for women,” Bondi said Wednesday. “Maine’s leadership has refused to comply at every turn, so we have no other choice, we are taking them to court.”Gov. Janet Mills reacted to the lawsuit Wednesday morning calling it an “unprecedented campaign” to pressure the state of Maine. She also said “This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law.”The DOJ is seeking an injunction against Maine, exploring retroactively pulling funding that Maine has received in the past and seeking to get titles awarded to female athletes who competed against the biological males.U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon also spoke, calling it a “weighty development” against Maine. “Maine continues to willfully violate Title IX and strip the civil rights of women in the state,” she said.The debate over whether Maine should follow state law or federal came to a head on Feb. 21, when Gov. Janet Mills got into a heated exchange with President Donald Trump during a meeting of the nation’s governors at the White House. Trump said the state would not receive federal funding if it did not comply with his Feb. 5 executive order. Mills said she has been complying with state and federal law, and told Trump: “We’ll see you in court.””I hope Governor Mills will realize her political feud with the president will deprive the students of her state with much more that fair rights in student sporting events,” said McMahon Wednesday.Riley Gaines, a renowned collegiate swimmer and activist, also spoke Wednesday. She said it is amazing that there is still a fight for women’s rights. She said Mills is fighting little girls who want rights, but called it sick.”What Governor Mills, and democratic governors across the country, are doing is deeply regressive and utterly misogynistic,” Gaines said.A Maine student, Zoe Hutchins, who is a student at Lawrence High School, also spoke and said she looks forward to having a level playing field back.Another Maine student, who competed against a biological male in skiing and lost several times, also spoke and said she is glad the federal government is fighting for her.When asked about Mills’ comments that there are only two transgender athletes competing in Maine, Bondi laughed, said she had not heard the comments, but said even if there is only one, that is enough for them to fight and put a stop to it, calling them boys competing as girls, not transgendered.On April 11, the Maine Attorney General’s Office sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights saying the Maine AG and Maine Department of Education would not sign a Resolution Agreement to issue a directive forbidding schools from allowing transgender students who were assigned male at birth to participate in girls’ sports and declared “we are at an impasse.” The case was then referred to the Department of Justice and the Education Department said that same day it would begin a proceeding to try and stop the Maine DOE from receiving federal K-12 education funding, including formula and discretionary grants.Bondi read the letter from Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey during the press conference Wednesday in which Frey said they were at an impasse.Bondi said Wednesday the DOJ will be going after other states as well, including Minnesota and California, for Title IX violations.
WASHINGTON —U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi held a press conference Wednesday morning to announce enforcement actions against the Maine Department of Educating for violating Title IX, saying Maine is discriminating against women.
“What they have been through is horrific,” Bondi said, talking about women in Maine.
In a copy of the release obtained by Maine’s Total Coverage from inside the press briefing room minutes before the press conference, the Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against the state of Maine for “failure to comply with federal law.”
The lawsuit itself, filed Wednesday in federal court, is 31 pages.
The release says the DOJ “will use every legal tool available to remedy these violations and protect women’s civil rights.
The release cites two different examples of violations (these are quoted from the release):
- In February 2025, a biological male won first place in pole vault at Maine’s indoor Track and Field meet. He beat every female by a significant margin, qualifying him for regional championships – taking a spot from a female athlete. “Shame on him,” Bondi said during the press conference.
- In February 2024, a biological male started competing in female ski and cross country races in Maine. He placed first in the women’s 5k with a time that would have ranked 43rd among men
A post about the pole vault athlete, including a photograph, was shared by Rep. Laurel Libby on Feb. 17, 2025, helping put Maine in the national spotlight about the issue.
Libby was on stage for Wednesday’s press conference with Bondi, along with several other people from Maine. She called it “unfortunate” that the lawsuit was needed. She called on school boards across Maine to vote to align with Title IX, as the MSAD 70 board did on Monday. Bondi said any district in Maine that votes to comply with Title IX will be exempt from federal action, though it was unclear how that would play out. Gender identity is also a protected category under the Maine Civil Rights Act.
“We are going to continue to fight for women,” Bondi said Wednesday. “Maine’s leadership has refused to comply at every turn, so we have no other choice, we are taking them to court.”
Gov. Janet Mills reacted to the lawsuit Wednesday morning calling it an “unprecedented campaign” to pressure the state of Maine. She also said “This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law.”
The DOJ is seeking an injunction against Maine, exploring retroactively pulling funding that Maine has received in the past and seeking to get titles awarded to female athletes who competed against the biological males.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon also spoke, calling it a “weighty development” against Maine. “Maine continues to willfully violate Title IX and strip the civil rights of women in the state,” she said.
The debate over whether Maine should follow state law or federal came to a head on Feb. 21, when Gov. Janet Mills got into a heated exchange with President Donald Trump during a meeting of the nation’s governors at the White House. Trump said the state would not receive federal funding if it did not comply with his Feb. 5 executive order. Mills said she has been complying with state and federal law, and told Trump: “We’ll see you in court.”
“I hope Governor Mills will realize her political feud with the president will deprive the students of her state with much more that fair rights in student sporting events,” said McMahon Wednesday.
Riley Gaines, a renowned collegiate swimmer and activist, also spoke Wednesday. She said it is amazing that there is still a fight for women’s rights. She said Mills is fighting little girls who want rights, but called it sick.
“What Governor Mills, and democratic governors across the country, are doing is deeply regressive and utterly misogynistic,” Gaines said.
A Maine student, Zoe Hutchins, who is a student at Lawrence High School, also spoke and said she looks forward to having a level playing field back.
Another Maine student, who competed against a biological male in skiing and lost several times, also spoke and said she is glad the federal government is fighting for her.
When asked about Mills’ comments that there are only two transgender athletes competing in Maine, Bondi laughed, said she had not heard the comments, but said even if there is only one, that is enough for them to fight and put a stop to it, calling them boys competing as girls, not transgendered.
On April 11, the Maine Attorney General’s Office sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights saying the Maine AG and Maine Department of Education would not sign a Resolution Agreement to issue a directive forbidding schools from allowing transgender students who were assigned male at birth to participate in girls’ sports and declared “we are at an impasse.” The case was then referred to the Department of Justice and the Education Department said that same day it would begin a proceeding to try and stop the Maine DOE from receiving federal K-12 education funding, including formula and discretionary grants.
Bondi read the letter from Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey during the press conference Wednesday in which Frey said they were at an impasse.
Bondi said Wednesday the DOJ will be going after other states as well, including Minnesota and California, for Title IX violations.
