The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday it is temporarily pausing funding to the University of Maine System, a move that comes after President Trump and the state’s governor got into a spat over transgender rights, with the president threatening to block federal funds to the state.
The University of Maine said Tuesday it received a forwarded email chain in which the USDA’s chief financial officer ordered “awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System.”
“This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations. Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice,” the email continued.
In fiscal 2024, the USDA gave the University of Maine almost $30 million toward agricultural research, development programs for youth and farmer assistance.
While the department said the pause is over alleged concerns about Title VI or Title IX, the school said the government has not named specific complaints and that administrators have responded promptly to investigative inquiries.
“I’m appalled by the USDA’s decision to pause funding to the University of Maine System. This will hurt our farmers, halt critical research, and impact students throughout Maine,” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said on social media. “Once again, our state is being targeted for retribution — all because our officials are standing up for the rule of law.”
Last month, Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) got into a back-and-forth at the White House over his policies regarding transgender athletes.
Through executive action, Trump has sought to ban transgender women and girls from participating in sports teams that match their gender identity, but multiple states, including Maine, have pushed back.
“I’m complying with state and federal law,” Mills told Trump after he asked if the governor would comply with his executive order.
“We are the federal law. You better do it because you’re not going to get federal funding,” Trump said.
“See you in court,” Mills responded.
The University of Maine System (UMS) said the USDA’s inquiries were “not specific to any one UMS university” but “largely focused” on its policies around transgender athletes.
The university said it complied with state and federal laws, along with NCAA requirements, which administrators pointed out recently barred transgender athletes.
The statement from the University of Maine said Columbia University has also been affected by this funding cut.
The New York Ivy League school has already been targeted by the Trump administration, which says it failed to protect students from antisemitism in its handling of last year’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The Justice Department’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism on Friday announced the cancellation of some $400 million in federal grants to Columbia, warning that more cuts were likely to follow.
On Saturday, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of Columbia’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The detention of Khalil, an immigrant in the country legally who has not been officially charged with any crime, is the first known instance of the Trump administration seeking to deport a student activist over the protests.
The Hill has reached out to the USDA and Columbia for further comment.