In the Crosshairs: Sen. Tuberville Slams Gov. Mills Over Transgender Athletes
Maine governor set to acquire human rights accolade amidst clash with Trump administration over transgender participation in female sports
In a confrontational chat on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich," Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville guns for Maine Governor Janet Mills, criticizing her stance on transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
Maine's strong-willed leader is scheduled to receive the Human Rights Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization. The ceremony will take place next month.
Governor Mills will receive the accolade due to her tenacious clash with President Donald Trump's administration over transgender athletes' participation in female sports.
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A recent snap sees Governors, including Janet Mills, posing at the State House in Augusta, Maine.
According to a news release, Mills expressed her gratitude for the honor, stating:
She further emphasized her commitment to upholding constitutional liberties and protecting the rights of all citizens.
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As Mills stands at the forefront of battling the Trump administration, she receives recognition for her "moral courage" and willingness to stand up for her beliefs. Elizabeth Oyer, Justice Department pardon attorney, and immigration and reform activist Jeanette Vizguerra also receive this award.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed a lawsuit against Maine in April, instigated by Governor Mills' defiance of President Trump's executive order restricting transgender male participation in female sports teams.
This conflict has resulted in a funding freeze and a review of federal funding to Maine for allegedly withholding equal opportunities for women and girls in educational programs. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that the state must agree to protect female athletes from transgender inclusion before federal funding will be restored.
In response, Maine countered with a lawsuit, accusing the department of withholding funds intended for child feeding programs and care for disabled adults.
The Trump administration's executive order aimed to bar transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events.
Amid the changing landscape, Maine dropped its lawsuit earlier this month after the USDA agreed to restore federal funding. However, the legal battle over Title IX compliance continues.
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Ryan Gaydos serves as a senior editor for our website Digital.
Enrichment Data:
- Executive Order 14201: Issued by President Donald Trump in February 2025, this executive order mandates educational institutions to ban transgender girls from participating in women's sports teams. The order changes the interpretation of Title IX to condemn transgender girls' participation in sports as a violation of cisgender female athletes' rights.
- Legal Dispute: The USDA's funding freeze against Maine was imposed due to the state's policy permitting transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, which the USDA deemed as a violation of Title IX. The freeze impacted various programs, including school lunches, childcare, and services for disabled adults.
- Maine's Lawsuit: The state filed a lawsuit against the USDA, arguing that the funding freeze was unlawful and questioning the department's right to withhold funds without due process.
- Settlement and Current Status: A settlement was reached on May 2, 2025, where the USDA agreed to restore federal funding to Maine. However, this settlement did not address the substantive issue of Maine's compliance with Title IX. The Trump administration's lawsuit against Maine for alleged Title IX violations remains ongoing.
- Stakeholders' Positions:
- Governor Janet Mills: Mills has affirmed her commitment to abide by Maine's Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, and has been vocal in her criticism of federal actions.
- Trump Administration: The administration contends that Maine's policies violate Title IX and continues to push for compliance with the executive order.
- In the midst of the legal battle over Title IX compliance, Maine agreed to drop its lawsuit after the USDA agreed to restore federal funding following a settlement on May 2, 2025.
- Despite the Trump administration's opposition, Governor Janet Mills remains committed to upholding Maine's Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, and has been vocal in her criticism of federal actions that restrict transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed a lawsuit against Maine in April 2025, citing the state's policy permitting transgender athletes to compete in women's sports as a violation of Title IX, resulting in a funding freeze and a review of federal funding to Maine for allegedly withholding equal opportunities for women and girls in educational programs.
