Linda McMahon sends warning to Maine after state's education chief's emails undermining Trump surface

Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Maine, shares her reaction to the state's Education Department Commissioner Pender Makin suggesting schools can defy President Donald Trump's executive order protecting women's sports. 

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed a Fox News Digital report that the Maine education commissioner undermined President Donald Trump's executive orders in emails to schools. 

McMahon shared the report in a post on X Tuesday, referencing the Trump administration's lawsuit against the state for defying Title IX. 

"Deliberately defying federal law is exactly why [the Department of Education] found Maine in violation of Title IX- and why DOJ is continuing its lawsuit against the state. If you ignore federal law, there will be consequences," McMahon wrote.

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Emails obtained by Fox News Digital show Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin drafted multiple memos for schools that suggested the schools follow Maine state law and not comply with Trump's January executive orders that addressed public education. 

"Last week, we advised schools to adhere to the Maine Human Rights Act and your local school board policies related to nondiscrimination. We encourage you to continue to keep all people safe and we reiterate the fact that, at present, neither our state law nor your local policies are diminished by the executive orders directing action at the federal level, one memo read, as seen in a Jan. 28 email. 

"Most of the executive orders pertain to federal agencies and federal laws over which Maine DOE has no authority."

Makin corresponded with Maine Assistant Attorney General Sarah Forster, with a draft of a memo to schools. The memo