Trump sues Maine over trans women athletes in women's races

The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Maine for allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. This was announced by Attorney General, Pam Bondi, in the latest chapter of a battle against the Democratic-led East Coast state.

Last February,Donald Trump clashed with the governor, Janet Mills, after she issued an executive order barring trans women athletes from women's sports competitions. And last week, the administration decided to cut Maine's federal funding for public schools for this very reason. "Today, the Justice Department is announcing a civil lawsuit against Maine that is discriminating against women," Bondi said at a press conference, accusing the state of violatingTitle IX, the landmark civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination in educational facilities that receive federal funding.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has denied any recognition of gender diversity, both in his speeches and in hisexecutive orders. The president has also stated that he will push theInternational Olympic Committee to change its rules on transgender athletes before the2028 Los Angeles Games.