The Trump administration on Friday moved to rescind federal protections for transgender students in U.S. schools, marking a sharp reversal of Biden-era policy. The change would scale back guidance that had required schools receiving federal funds to accommodate students’ gender identity, including access to bathrooms and pronouns aligned with that identity.

The move is likely to intensify legal and political fights over civil rights in education, where school districts, parents, and advocacy groups have long clashed over how to balance student protections, privacy concerns, and local control. Supporters of transgender rights say the rollback would leave vulnerable students with fewer safeguards against discrimination.

The administration’s decision fits a broader effort by Trump officials to undo federal policies expanded under President Joe Biden. It also reflects an approach that has prioritized restricting recognition of transgender identity in public institutions, even as public opinion and court battles remain sharply divided.

Rights groups and education advocates are expected to challenge the change, arguing that schools should not be allowed to deny equal treatment to students based on gender identity. The outcome could shape policies nationwide, especially in states where school rules already vary widely.