Washington Examiner: Maine settles with Trump administration in funding freeze lawsuit

The State of Maine dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration on Friday after reaching a settlement agreement, which comes as the two parties have been feuding over transgender policies.

Maine agreed to withdraw its lawsuit in exchange for the Department of Agriculture vowing not to freeze the millions of dollars it directs to the state’s Department of Education unlawfully, according to court documents.

Judge John Woodcock, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, previously ruled in Maine’s favor by granting a restraining order. He said the USDA’s actions were “contrary to law, for multiple reasons,” including because Secretary Brooke Rollins did not follow legal procedures required to stop the funding.

Rollins agreed on Friday to “refrain from freezing, terminating, or otherwise interfering with the state of Maine’s access” to USDA funds, “based on alleged violations of Title IX without first following all legally required procedures,” the agreement read.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/maine-settles-with-trump-administration-in-funding-freeze-lawsuit/ar-AA1E4GLa

More here:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/trump-maine-funding-freeze

People: Trump Administration Opens More than 50% of Protected U.S. Forest Land for Logging: What That Means

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claims that turning trees into timber will help prevent wildfires, though experts have deemed it a harmful and inefficient method

Following an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at increasing U.S. timber production, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced plans to remove environmental protections that will allow logging on millions of acres of national forest land.

More than 50% of the United States’ formerly protected national forests are now on-limits for the logging industry.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-administration-opens-more-than-50-of-protected-u-s-forest-land-for-logging-what-that-means/ar-AA1CtH6d