A series of federal actions have rocked Maine in recent weeks following a public exchange between Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump over the state’s policies regarding transgender athletes, federal funding and trade relations.
The dispute first made national headlines in February when Trump confronted Mills at a National Governors Association meeting over Maine’s policy allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports. Trump, citing an executive order restricting transgender athletes in federally funded programs, threatened to pull education funding if the state did not comply. Mills pushed back.
“I’ll see you in court,” she told the president at the White House on Feb. 21.
Speaking to News Center Maine on Monday, Mills shared that she entered the meeting hoping to find common ground, but was met with “offensive, aggressive statements” about Maine. “It’s unfortunate that he [Trump] chose to do that,” she said.
In the weeks that followed, the federal government moved swiftly, initiating several actions that will affect Maine residents. The Social Security Administration abruptly ended the state’s “Enumeration at Birth” program, which allows hospitals to help parents register newborns for Social Security numbers before leaving the hospital. The decision sparked outrage from healthcare providers and parents, prompting Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek to reverse the policy and issue a public apology.
The Trump Administration also attempted to cut $4.5 million in funding for the Maine Sea Grant program, a decades-old initiative supporting marine research and industry. Lawmakers, including Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, criticized the decision, arguing that the program fuels the state’s economy. After widespread backlash, the administration backed down, agreeing to reconsider the funding.
Maine’s education policies also came under federal scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services launched investigations into the Maine’s compliance with Title IX, arguing that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports denies equal opportunity to female student-athletes. The findings put millions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey rejected the federal determination, arguing that Maine law protects against gender identity discrimination, and that the administration’s stance is politically motivated.
In an interview with the Maine Campus, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the recent wave of executive orders and federal actions have felt “unorganized and potentially punitive.” She criticized the administration for making abrupt decisions, only to reverse them shortly after, pointing to the Social Security issue as an example.
“We can all agree that government should be as efficient and effective as possible,” said Bellows. “But eliminating whole programs, funding streams to farmers or to the university, and making decisions and then reversing them the next day doesn’t make any sense from an operational perspective.”
Bellows also raised concerns over the role of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial initiative overseen by Trump-ally Elon Musk. She argued that the department is acting outside constitutional bounds by making funding decisions traditionally reserved for Congress.
“They don’t seem to understand how government should actually function,” said Bellows. “They are not actually a department. They haven’t been appointed or confirmed by Congress and their authority is unprecedented.”
She also noted that DOGE eliminated federal election security funding, which states previously used to bolster cybersecurity measures against foreign interference.
“Zeroing out that funding may save taxpayers money in the short run, but in the long run, opening up our infrastructure to potential attack could cost us greatly,” said Bellows.
Further straining state-federal relations, the Trump Administration announced new tariffs on
Canadian imports, a move that Maine business leaders warned would negatively impact the state. Maine’s economy relies heavily on trade with Canada, particularly in the energy and tourism sectors. After pushback from lawmakers and business leaders, the administration postponed some tariffs until April 2, though uncertainty remains.
With multiple federal investigations still active and the threat of funding cuts looming, Maine’s Interactions with Washington show no signs of easing. However, Bellows remains optimistic that Maine’s resilience would outlast the political turmoil.
“I know things are uncertain and genuinely scary right now,” said Bellows. “I also know that we are a strong community with a powerful constitution that serves us well. I have faith that good people coming together are going to restore common sense and rise above the chaos.”
