posted May 03, 2025 06:58 PM            

Under the settlement, signed Friday, the Trump administration has agreed not to freeze or otherwise interfere with the state's access to Department of Agriculture funds. The settlement does not constitute an admission of guilt by any party involved.

The settlement comes exactly a month after Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sent a letter to Governor Janet Mills, writing the USDA was freezing the state's funding.

"The letter on April 2nd from Brooke Rollins...I have described earlier to people as something that has smacked as a ransom note written by a school child," said Governor Mills.

A move widely viewed as illegal since that money that had already been approved by Congress.

In response, Attorney General Aaron Frey sued. "There was no investigation, there was no notice, and there was no lawful process that was followed." He added, "Maine had no choice, but to bring suit to confront this unlawful action by the USDA,” said Attorney General Aaron Frey.

Governor Mills hailed the settlement as "a victory," noting that Maine achieved its demands in the lawsuit against the federal government. The funding freeze had impacted the salaries of workers administering school food programs. Maine's Attorney General described the freeze as "blatantly illegal" and the Governor stated, "We took on Trump... and won."

"When confronted by the president of the United States, I told him I'd see him in court, and we did see him in court, and we won," said Governor Mills.

Attorney General Aaron Frey added, "The USDA froze funds for Maine school children and there was no lawful process that was followed."

Transgender students represent a small fraction of athletes in the state. The latest estimate is that there are two transgender athletes competing in the state.

Governor Mills is watching the President lose many other legal cases and hopes for more victories against President Trump.

"It's the congress that makes the law, not the president," said Governor Mills. She added, "I am confident when we see him in court we will win time and time again."