WASHINGTON  -- The Trump administration revoked federal guidelines telling public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their chosen gender identity, citing confusion.

The decision is a reversal of an Obama-era directive issued in May requiring public schools to grant bathroom access even if the student's chosen gender identity isn't the same as what's in the student's record. Anti-bullying safeguards will not be affected by the change, a government official with direct knowledge of the Trump administration's plans told The Associated Press.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans and did so on condition of anonymity.

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Although the guidance carried no force of law, transgender rights advocates say it was necessary to protect students from discrimination. Opponents argued it was overreach.