Transgender bathroom decision could cost Marion schools $53 million

OCALA, Fla. – Marion County school leaders say the district could lose as much as $53 million because of its new policy on transgender bathrooms. 

The district made headlines earlier this month when it passed a rule requiring students to use the bathroom based on the gender of their birth certificate. 

President Barack Obama has warned that he will cut off federal funding for schools that don't go along with the new mandate, which says students can use the bathroom based on their current gender identity, even if it is different from what is on their birth certificate. 

The district's budget director said government money is used for everything from food services to the ROTC program.