The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), the governing body for school sports in the state, has officially rejected President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at barring biological males from competing in women’s and girls’ sports.
MPA Executive Director Mike Burnham confirmed Wednesday that the organization will continue to adhere to Maine’s state laws regarding gender identity, despite the changes to federal Title IX rules.
Burnham stated that the MPA will not comply with Trump’s directive, which was issued on February 5 and mandates that schools receiving federal funding must prohibit biological males from participating in women’s athletics.
Elon Musk Called This Financial News 'Terrifying'
The order explicitly warns that schools failing to enforce the policy risk losing federal funding.
“The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) will continue to follow state law regarding gender identity,” Burnham said, according to Fox News.
He also indicated that schools across the state will be expected to comply with Maine’s existing legal framework rather than the new federal mandate.
American Made Patriotic Apparel - Save 15% with Promo Code MERICA
“I am instructing all schools in Maine to follow the Maine Human Rights Act,” Burnham added, emphasizing that the MPA will not implement any policies that contradict state law.
Burnham noted that the organization will monitor any developments at the federal level but, for now, will not alter its stance.
“The staff at the MPA will closely monitor any updates from federal and state authorities regarding the potential impact of the president’s executive order on high school sports participation and adjust its policy accordingly,” he said.
President Trump signed the executive order on February 5 in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by young female athletes and advocates of women’s sports.
The order reaffirms protections for biological women in athletics, reversing Biden-era policies that had allowed transgender participation in women’s sports under Title IX.
“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And it should have been done long ago.”
JUST IN: President Trump signs executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports.
This is Trump’s fourth executive order involving transgender people since taking office.
“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said, commenting on his… pic.twitter.com/mSVQFj6sFD
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 5, 2025
The new Title IX rules state that schools must ensure biological males do not compete in female categories. Institutions that fail to comply could face the loss of federal funding.
Maine is not the only Democratic-controlled state to reject the new federal policy. Earlier this month, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) also stated that its policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports would remain in place, citing state law as the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, Virginia has taken the opposite approach.
The Commonwealth announced that its school sports organizations would comply with the federal mandate, meaning transgender athletes will not be permitted to compete in women’s sports under the revised Title IX guidelines.
— VHSL Athletics (@VHSL_) February 10, 2025
As the legal and political battles over transgender participation in athletics continue, states are increasingly taking divergent paths in response to the federal directive.
The issue is expected to remain a point of contention as Trump’s administration moves forward with its efforts to enforce the new Title IX policies.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.