Trump Backs Down in Trans Athlete Fight

The Trump administration blinked first in its latest political crusade against transgender rights — this time in the cafeteria line. After freezing crucial school meal funding for Maine in a showdown over trans athlete inclusion, the administration has now agreed to unfreeze the funds, ending a legal battle that had jeopardized food programs for thousands of kids and vulnerable adults.

At the heart of the conflict was Title IX — and Trump’s executive order barring transgender athletes from school sports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Secretary Brooke Rollins, accused Maine of noncompliance and abruptly halted over $1.8 million in funding for administrative and tech support for state-run nutrition programs. That freeze extended to another $900,000 in already awarded but inaccessible funds, and it put an additional $3 million in summer meal reimbursements at risk.

Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey was not having it. He filed suit, slamming the administration for using children’s meals as leverage in a political culture war. “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. “But we are pleased that the lawsuit has now been resolved.”

Legal Pressure Turns the Tide

Last month, a federal judge sided with Maine, ruling that the state was likely to succeed in its legal challenge and ordering the immediate release of the frozen funds. With its legal position crumbling, the Trump administration relented and settled the case — a rare retreat for a White House that has made targeting trans rights a signature move in education and federal policy.

The original freeze was triggered after Maine refused to adopt Trump’s rewritten Title IX guidelines, which effectively erased protections for trans students by mandating that gender identity could not be recognized in school sports. That put Maine — a state with inclusive policies — directly at odds with federal orders. The USDA claimed the state’s Department of Education was out of compliance and slammed the brakes on funding used to keep school nutrition programs running.

But the administration’s attempt to starve out policy resistance backfired. Maine’s quick legal response, bolstered by growing public backlash and a judge’s early support, forced the administration to back down. For now, the kids get to eat — and Maine gets to keep its dignity.

The Broader Fight for Trans Rights

This isn’t just about school lunch. It’s part of a broader trend of using federal dollars to punish states and institutions that refuse to conform to anti-LGBTQ policy directives. It’s a tactic that disproportionately harms trans youth, queer families, and now, apparently, children who just need a hot meal.

By weaponizing Title IX, the Trump administration continues to distort the landmark civil rights law into a tool for exclusion. And while they may have momentarily pulled back in Maine, LGBTQ advocates warn that more political standoffs are likely — especially in education, healthcare, and housing, where gender identity protections remain under constant attack.

For now, Maine stands as proof that state resistance still matters. When federal power tries to bully its way through the lunchroom, sometimes, you have to flip the tray and head to court. And sometimes — just sometimes — the bullies lose.