The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has temporarily frozen $30 million in federal funding to the University of Maine system. The freeze, announced on March 10, 2025, follows a public clash between President Donald Trump and Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills. According to the university, this pause could severely affect critical educational programs and agricultural research in the state.
The freeze comes amid a larger political dispute over Trump’s executive orders, particularly one aimed at barring transgender women from participating in school athletics. As reported by USA Today, this move from the USDA follows a tense exchange between Trump and Mills during a National Governors Association meeting on February 21, 2025. Trump had warned Mills that the federal government would withdraw funding from Maine schools if they allowed trans athletes to participate in sports. Mills, in turn, responded defiantly, saying, “We’ll see you in court,” as quoted by USA Today.
USDA’s compliance review triggers funding halt
Following the exchange, the USDA launched a review of the University of Maine’s compliance with the new federal directive. On March 9, 2025, USDA official Chelsea D. Cole sent an email instructing staff to “temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System.”
The University of Maine system, which received approximately $30 million in federal grants in fiscal year 2024, confirmed that the freeze would likely impact various programs. These include agricultural research, which explores contamination issues affecting Maine’s farms, as well as funding for youth programs, fishermen, and foresters. The funding pause comes at a critical time, as these programs are vital to Maine’s economy.
Broader implications for academic institutions
This move by the Trump administration follows a similar action against Columbia University, where $400 million in federal contracts and grants were also frozen. As reported by USA Today, the university’s president, Katrina Armstrong, expressed concern, stating that the funding cuts would have “dire consequences” on the institution’s teaching, research, and medical operations.
