Justice department lawsuit escalates a battle over Title IX as Maine vows to fight federal funding cuts in court

The Trump administration sued Maine on Wednesday for allowing transgender girls to compete in school sports, dramatically escalating a confrontation that has already seen threats to cut the state’s education and school lunch funding.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit flanked by Riley Gaines, the former collegiate swimmer turned conservative commentator who has become the public face in opposition to transgender athletes.