AUGUSTA — Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey are pushing back against a federal lawsuit that claims Maine is violating anti-discrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate in female sports.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi filed the suit Wednesday, saying the Trump administration is “going to continue to fight for women.”

The lawsuit comes two months after Mills and President Donald Trump traded barbs during a meeting with governors from across the country. After Trump told Mills he would withhold federal funding if she did not ban transgender athletes from sports, she responded “we’ll see you in court.”

In a statement released Wednesday, Mills said the Trump administration is trying to pressure Maine into ignoring the Constitution and the rule of law.

“This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states’ rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law,” she said.

Frey issued a statement saying he is “confident” Maine is following Title IX and the Maine Human Rights Act, which classifies gender identity as a protected class.

“While the President issued an executive order that reflects his own interpretation of the law, anyone with the most basic understanding of American civics understands the president does not create law nor interpret law,” Frey said. “We look forward to representing the state of Maine and defending the rule of law.”

But House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) said he finds it difficult to believe Mills and Frey have continued to fight the federal government after weeks of warnings.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” he said. “They’ve given Maine so many chances to fix this problem. I’m really astonished the governor, and the attorney general, seem to be so persistent on keeping biological boys in girls’ sports.”

Mills noted that since the dispute began in February, Maine has been punished in several ways by the federal government. Several grants have been canceled, with some reinstated, creating uncertainty for fishermen, farmers and others.

“We have been subject to politically motivated investigations that opened and closed without discussion, leaving little doubt that their outcomes were predetermined,” she said. “Let today serve as a warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last.”