The Latest: Trump administration targets Maine and University of Pennsylvania over trans athletes

The Education Department concluded Wednesday that Maine’s education office violated Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to play on girls’ sports teams and use girls’ sports facilities. The state has 10 days to comply with a list of demands or the case will be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.

President Donald Trump’s administration also suspended $175 million in funding for the University of Pennsylvania over the participation of a transgender athlete in its swimming program. The Education Department began a separate investigation into the school over the program last month.

Meanwhile, a senior official at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is taking a leadership role at the U.S. Agency for International Development, giving DOGE direct authority over an agency it has worked to dismantle, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

Here's the latest:

Trump meets with oil executives at White House

The meeting, which included Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, was part of Trump’s agenda to boost domestic energy production and restore what he calls energy dominance.

Executives in attendance included ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and Ryan Lance from ConocoPhillips.

While oil companies have expressed concerns over Trump’s tariffs on trade partners, including Canada and Mexico, the White House said tariffs were not discussed. Trump “reaffirmed his commitment to restore America’s energy dominance and drill, baby, drill,” spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.

Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobbying group, said the executives appreciated the opportunity to meet with Trump and key Cabinet members to discuss “common-sense energy solutions Americans voted for,” including permitting reform, increased offshore oil production and lower subsidies for electric vehicles.

Republican representative calls public blowup between Trump and Zelenskyy ‘extremely unfortunate’

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler says he isn’t happy about the public Oval Office flare up between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lawler, a Republican, told constituents during a tele-town hall on Wednesday that he thought the blowup between the two leaders late last month was “extremely unfortunate.”

“Sometimes as you are negotiating foreign policy, there are strong disagreements and tensions and it was unfortunate that it flared up in public view. Most of the time that happens behind closed doors,.” Lawler said in response to a question about Trump’s positions on Russia.

Trump plans executive order to lay groundwork for shutting down Education Department, official says

The White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the announcement, said Trump plans to sign the order on Thursday.

Finalizing the elimination of the Department of Education would require an act of Congress.

But a White House fact sheet said the order would direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

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Associated Press reporter Chris Megerian contributed.

Navajo Nation says White House told them AI error caused Code Talker photos to be removed

“White House officials reached out to my office and confirmed that removal of ‘Navajo’ from the agency websites was a result of an error caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI) automated review process associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives,” Navajo Nation president Buu Nygren said in a statement. “We remain in close communication with federal officials to ensure the legacy of our cherished Navajo Code Talkers is never erased from American and Navajo history.”

The Pentagon also acknowledged in a statement that images honoring the Code Talkers were not meant to be deleted and would be restored to Department of Defense websites. The Code Talkers used Navajo language to transmit secret messages back an forth from the Pacific theater in World War II and were critical to Allied victory.

Tens of thousands of other images that highlight contributions by women and minorities, however, remain purged. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment

‘My job is to be more than just an activist’

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin said it’s no secret Democrats don’t have their strategy figured out, but said the “yelling” of progressive Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders has not stopped Trump’s agenda.

Slotkin was responding to a constituent who asked the freshman senator what Democrats can do besides reiterating that they are against the administration while at a town hall Wednesday in Flint, Michigan. The constituent’s question was met with applause.

The exchange highlights ongoing debates in the Democratic Party over how to play defense with the administration when it is out of power in both chambers of Congress.

Slotkin said she represents Trump voters in Michigan as well and is responding to the needs of residents impacted by Trump’s executive orders and the Department of Government Efficiency’s plans.

“All of those things require me to be more than just an AOC,” Slotkin said. Her response also drew applause.

▶ Read more about Slotkin’s remarks at the Flint town hall

Pentagon reviews plans to reduce troops handling migrants at Guantánamo, officials say

The cuts are being considered because there are no detainees there now and the program has stumbled during legal challenges, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the decisions are not yet finalized.

The officials say the military’s Southern Command was asked to give Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a plan that would outline how many troops are actually needed and what additional space may be required if more detainees are sent there.

That plan, officials say, is expected to recommend that a number of the troops be sent home — and one official said the decision could chop the 900 troops there now in half.

▶ Read more about the possible reduction of troops at Guantánamo