A U.S. district judge in Boston has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s directive requiring colleges nationwide to submit detailed race and admissions data to the federal government. The ruling offers a short-term reprieve to 17 Democratic attorneys general who challenged the policy through legal action.
Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order
U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, appointed by former President George W. Bush, issued the temporary restraining order on March 13, 2026. The order prevents the Trump administration from enforcing the mandate immediately, extending the deadline for data submission by 12 days, through March 25. This pause allows the court to review the legal challenges presented by the states and to seek an orderly resolution.
Trump’s Data Mandate and Legal Opposition
Trump announced the plan in August 2025, aiming to increase transparency in college admissions by requiring institutions receiving federal funding to report race and gender data dating back several years, as well as information on applicant pools and enrollment. This initiative followed a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended race-conscious admissions practices.
Democratic attorneys general opposed the order, arguing they lacked sufficient time to compile the extensive data—approximately seven years’ worth—and criticized the administration’s use of the Education Department’s statistical agency, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as a tool for enforcement and partisan objectives.
Next Steps and Administration Response
The Trump administration’s response to the temporary injunction remains unknown, as neither the Department of Justice nor the Department of Education has commented on whether they will appeal the ruling. The court’s upcoming decision will determine the future of the data collection policy.
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