Thirteen States Ask Federal Court to Stop Transgender Bathroom Policy

States are fighting to stop the Obama administration's transgender bathroom directive while they still have a chance. 

With students on summer break, 13 states including, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin, are trying to halt the directive that requires public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. If public schools don't comply they could lose federal funding. 

The 13-state coalition is now asking the federal courts to keep the administration from enforcing the policy while the lawsuit proceeds, reports Reuters. 

"Schools are facing the potential loss of funding for simply exercising the authority to implement the policies that best protect their students," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement on Wednesday.

The coalition's lawsuit is one of several state-based challenges to the directive. 

A Justice Department official told the states' lawyer that the department opposed the motion, but agreed to respond quickly so as to resolve the issue before the end of the school year.

According to the motion, the Justice Department must respond to the injunction request by July 27.