In yet another hostile move against the trans community, the Trump administration has launched a federal investigation into the state of Maine, alleging that dozens of its school districts are violating federal law by not informing parents when students socially transition at school. The investigation, announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Education, follows a similar probe into California’s education system launched just a day earlier. Both cases accuse the states of potentially breaching the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), claiming schools are keeping parents in the dark about their children’s gender identity.
At the center of the investigation are so-called “gender plans”—confidential strategies created by schools to support transgender students, which the federal department claims are being improperly withheld from parents. “Parents and guardians have the right to access their child’s education records to guide and safeguard their child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Any policy to the contrary is both illegal and immoral,” declared Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a statement filled with more righteousness than empathy. Let’s not forget: McMahon now leads the very department the Trump camp has vowed to strip to its studs.
Maine Pushes Back—Hard
The state of Maine, already no stranger to battles over transgender rights in sports and education, is not rolling over. This investigation comes on the heels of a high-profile spat between Trump and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who clashed during a White House governors’ meeting in February. Trump, playing to his far-right base, threatened to yank federal funding unless the state complied with his executive order banning trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Mills wasn’t having it. “We’ll see you in court,” she shot back—a bold line that now feels more prophetic than performative.
Further turning up the heat, the Department of Health and Human Services recently accused the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and a local high school of violating Title IX by allowing transgender participation in sports. The entities have made clear they will not accept the proposed agreement banning trans girls from competing—staking out a clear stance in the ever-expanding war on queer youth.
A Chilling Message to Trans Students
What’s really at stake here isn’t just bureaucracy or political grandstanding—it’s the dignity and safety of trans kids. Policies that allow schools to affirm a student’s gender identity without outing them to unsupportive parents can be life-saving. For many LGBTQ teens, especially those living in conservative households, school may be the only space where their identities are respected and protected. Trump’s tactics not only aim to dismantle that protection, but also send a loud, harmful message: that trans youth are a problem to be surveilled, rather than students deserving support.
This isn’t just about Maine. It’s about setting a precedent, intimidating progressive states, and threatening the fragile gains made for LGBTQ rights in education. While officials in Maine remain publicly silent, the state’s refusal to buckle under political pressure is a beacon in dark times. The queer community—and the world—should be paying attention.