In February, President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender girls and women from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity, interpreting Title IX to exclude transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. This move has led to legal and political debates, including a lawsuit against Maine's Department of Education for allegedly not complying with the federal interpretation of Title IX. The conflict has escalated into a broader confrontation between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who has resisted the directive and is prepared to challenge it in court.