The Supreme Court decided Wednesday to put a hold on a ruling that would have required a Virginia school district to allow a transgender high school student to use the boy's bathroom.

The eight justices split 5-3, with Democrat-appointed Justice Stephen Breyer siding with the Republican-appointed judges that the Gloucester County public school system does not have to accommodate student Gavin Grimm's request to use the bathroom of his choice.

The decision is bad news for the Obama administration, which had issued a guidance earlier this year telling public middle and high schools to give transgender students freedom to choose which bathroom to use or have their federal funds revoked.