The Trump administration has rolled back federal guidelines that said transgender students should be allowed to use school bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Both the Justice and Education departments sent a letter to public schools on Wednesday saying the earlier directive written by the Obama administration caused confusion across the states.

While the new letter says the guidelines have been lifted, anti-bullying safeguards will remain in effect.

The Obama administration instructed public schools last year to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity. The administration threatened to withhold federal funding if schools forced transgender children to use restrooms against their will.

North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Show all 14 1 /14 North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law The "We Are Not This" slogan is posted at the entrances to Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Museum manager Jeff Bell adheres informative backing to gender neutral signs in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A gender neutral sign is posted outside a bathrooms at Oval Park Grill on May 11, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Unisex signs hang outside bathrooms at Toast Paninoteca on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A private women's bathroom is offered at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A private men's bathroom is offered at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty North Carolina clashes with US over public restroom law A unisex sign and the "We Are Not This" slogan are outside a bathroom at Bull McCabes Irish Pub on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty

States and school districts will now have the power to interpret whether federal sex discrimination law applies to gender identity.

Transgender rights advocates have argued that the guidelines were necessary to protect transgender students. Reuters reports that a few hundred protesters gathered outside the White House on Wednesday night, waving rainbow flags and chanting, "No hate, no fear, trans students are welcome here."

James Esseks, the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT project director, criticised the President and called on school districts to continue protecting the rights of their transgender students.

“Revoking the guidance shows that the president’s promise to protect LGBT rights was just empty rhetoric. But the bottom line is that this does not undo legal protections for trans students, and school districts can and must continue to protect them and all students from discrimination,” he said in a statement.