Republican President Donald Trump's administration is expected to revoke landmark guidelines issued to public schools in defence of transgender student rights, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.
The draft reverses former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature initiative, which instructed public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity.
The White House said on Wednesday they expect to release something new on the issue today, after the Justice and Education departments finish reviewing current federal guidance on transgender bathroom use in public schools.
"I would expect further guidance to come out on that today," White House spokesperson Sean Spicer told a news briefing, adding that "the president ... is a firm believer in states' rights" and the new administration had "several areas of concern, both legal and procedural".
The draft document states that its purpose is to withdraw the guidance of May 13, 2016, that threatened to withhold federal funding if schools forced transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding to their gender assigned at birth against their will.
During the election campaign, Trump at first said transgender people should be able to use the bathroom they feel is appropriate, but changed tack after coming under criticism from fellow Republicans, saying it should be a matter for states to decide.
On Tuesday, that position was repeated by Mr Spicer.
Reuters
