The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has temporarily halted funding to the University of Maine System (UMS), according to university officials. The move follows Maine’s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning biological male athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The USDA is reviewing potential Title IX and Title VI violations related to the issue. Trump had previously warned that states allowing transgender athletes to compete with girls would face consequences, a stance he reiterated during his March 4 address to Congress.

A UMS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the system had been notified about the funding pause.

President Trump has defunded Maine universities due to the state failing to protect women’s sports from men.

Recently, Trump told Maine’s governor that there would be consequences for defying his executive order that banned men from women’s sports.

Promise kept! pic.twitter.com/y9LVXo1AoS

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 12, 2025

“An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s ‘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,'” the spokesperson said.

“The message goes on to state, ‘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.'”

UMS stated that its universities are in compliance with state and federal laws and are members of the NCAA. The system also said it is unaware of any Title VI violations but will provide more details after further analysis.

In the 2024 fiscal year, the USDA awarded $29.78 million in funding to UMS for research. A letter from the USDA indicated that the agency has provided over $100 million to the system in recent years.

The NCAA has also revised its gender eligibility policy, barring athletes born biologically male from competing in women’s sports.

Trump had initially threatened to cut Maine’s funding during a February 20 meeting with GOP governors at the White House. The next day, Governor Janet Mills’ office responded by threatening legal action if federal funds were withheld. Tensions escalated further when Trump and Mills clashed in a publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan governors’ meeting.

Just hours later, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Maine for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports and potential Title IX violations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had already determined that the state and its education department violated Title IX and referred the matter to the Department of Justice.

Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby played a key role in the controversy after identifying a biological male who won a girls’ state pole vault competition for Greely High School. Following her social media post, police were assigned to the school for protection.

Libby was later censured by the Maine House of Representatives and Speaker Ryan Fecteau. She has since filed a lawsuit against Fecteau, seeking to restore her voting and speaking rights.

The issue has sparked protests on both sides. A demonstration called the “March Against Mills” took place outside the Maine State House, where female athletes spoke out against the governor. Meanwhile, eight pro-trans activists gathered outside Libby’s home, holding signs condemning her stance.