Linda McMahon Warns Maine After Trump-Disparaging Emails Emerge

U.S. Education Secretary Condemns Maine's Defiance of Federal Laws

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon has publicly criticized the actions of the Maine education commissioner, citing emails that suggest schools in the state are ignoring federal executive orders. The controversy centers around President Donald Trump’s directives on public education and the ongoing legal battle between the state and the federal government.

McMahon shared details of a report on social media, highlighting the implications of Maine's refusal to comply with Title IX regulations. "Deliberately defying federal law is exactly why [the Department of Education] found Maine in violation of Title IX— and why DOJ is continuing its lawsuit against the state. If you ignore federal law, there will be consequences," she stated.

The dispute began when emails obtained by a news outlet revealed that Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin sent multiple memos to schools advising them to follow state laws rather than comply with Trump’s executive orders. One memo from January 28 emphasized that schools should adhere to the Maine Human Rights Act and local school board policies related to nondiscrimination. It also noted that neither state law nor local policies were affected by the executive orders.

Makin corresponded with Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster regarding a draft memo for schools. In an email dated January 30, it was suggested that schools should avoid following Trump’s "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling" executive order. The memo draft stated that "Maine schools should continue to follow the laws of our state and the provisions within their local policies."

In another email on January 31, Makin reiterated that the executive order did not change the obligations of schools under state law, including the Maine Human Rights Act. He also mentioned that no immediate changes to locally adopted school board policies were required.

Maine state representative Laurel Libby commented on the issue during an interview, expressing her support for the stance taken by the state. She said, "It’s a woke agenda with which most Mainers don’t agree. They don’t agree that biological males should be participating in girls' sports."

The conflict between Maine and the Trump administration escalated after the state became one of the first to openly defy his "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. This led to a trans athlete winning a girls’ pole vault competition and a heated exchange between Trump and Governor Janet Mills at a White House meeting of governors.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Mills and the state for violating Title IX, with the trial scheduled for January 2026. A survey conducted by the American Parents Coalition revealed strong public support for maintaining sports participation based on biological sex. According to the poll, 63% of about 600 registered Maine voters believe school sports should be based on biological sex, while 66% agreed that it is "only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women."

Additionally, 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls' sports to biological females. This includes 64% of independents and 66% of parents with children under age 18.

The situation highlights a growing divide between state and federal authorities over educational policies and the interpretation of Title IX. As the legal battle continues, the debate over the role of federal law in shaping school policies remains a contentious issue across the country.