Mon Apr 14 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Maine Wins Temporary Restraining Order, Unfreezing Millions in Child Nutrition Funds

**Portland, ME** – A federal judge has ordered the temporary release of over $2.7 million in federal funds earmarked for Maine’s child nutrition program. The funds had been frozen by the Trump administration following a dispute over the state’s policy allowing transgender girls to participate in girls’ high school sports.

U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock issued the temporary restraining order on Friday in response to a lawsuit filed by Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey. The lawsuit claimed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly withheld funds intended for administrative and technological functions within the state’s schools, impacting the child nutrition program. These funds included over $1.8 million for the current fiscal year, more than $900,000 in prior year funds, and an anticipated $3 million for summer meal programs.

The USDA’s action stemmed from a disagreement with Maine over compliance with Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. The Trump administration had previously threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine due to its policy on transgender athletes, a conflict that escalated during a White House meeting between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills in February. Governor Mills stated her intention to comply with federal and state laws, prompting President Trump’s warning about funding cuts.

While Judge Woodcock’s order addresses the immediate funding freeze, it does not resolve the broader dispute regarding transgender athletes and Title IX compliance. This decision comes on the same day Maine officials reaffirmed their refusal to comply with the Trump administration’s ban on transgender athletes in high school sports, following a U.S. Education Department finding that Maine’s policy violated Title IX. The USDA has yet to comment on the court’s decision.

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