Attorney General Aaron M. Frey Who Just Won an Important Win Against the USDA for Mainers.

A Battered and Bandaged Bald Eagle – “Only 1,361 Days to Go” in this Administration Graces the Cover of the April 26th – May 2nd, 2025 Magazine – “The Economist”

These Signs Referred to the Iconic One Liner of Governor Janet T. Mills (D) with Convicted Felon Trump at the White House Earlier This Year.  This Immortal Response of the Governor has Spawned the Production of T-shirts Available at Little chair Printing. 648 Congress Street, Portland.  For more, please visit post herein dated April 25, 2025.

In an important legal win for the state of Maine, the US Department of Agriculture has agreed that it will not interfere with Maine school funding to the tune of $3 million. The USDA sought to do this based on alleged violations regarding Title IX.

In the settlement signed this mornng, the USDA agreed not to “freeze, terminate or interfere” with Maine’s access to that funding – at least without following its very own proceedings.

The conflict became public when Governor Janet T. Mills told President Trump that she would see him in court at a meeting at the White House earlier this year. At that meeting during a National Governors Assocation winter conference in Washington, DC, Trump asked Governor Mills if she were going to comply with his demand on Title 1X – because he is the law. She said she would comply with the law and the Constitution. She did and she won.

On April 7, AG Frey filed a Complaint in federal court against the USDA and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for withholding funding used to feed children and vulnerable adults.  This filing followed a letter received on April 2nd from Secretary Rollins announcing the freeze because of  Maine’s alleged violation of the Title 1X in educational programming.  “This is only the beginning,” Secretary Rollins pledged in that letter.  Then on April 11, 2025, Maine received a temporary restraining order on the freeze from the Trump administration as requested by AG Frey.

Attorney General Aaron M. Frey issued the following statement in response to the court resolution today:

“It’s unfortunate that my office had to resort to federal court to get USDA to comply with the law and its own regulations.  But we are pleased that the lawsuit has now been resolved and that Maine will continue to receive funds as directed by Congress to feed children and vulnerable adults in Maine.”

Governor Mills also issued the following statement on the settlement late this afternoon:

“The State of Maine went to court and fought this unlawful attempt to freeze critical funding for our school lunch program – and we won.  I applaud the work of Attorney General Frey and his staff in representing the state on this action against USDA and preserving healthy schol meals for 172,000 Maine school children.”  This statement of the Governor’s followed a brief press conference at the State  House in Augusta this afternoon.

For background information on this lawsuit, please visit posts herein dated April 7 and April 11, 2025.