A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration initiative that required public colleges in certain states to submit data showing they do not consider race in admissions. The preliminary injunction, issued Friday by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston, applies to public universities within the states represented by a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general who filed suit earlier this month.
Although Judge Saylor acknowledged that the federal government likely has the authority to collect admissions data, he ruled that the Education Department implemented the data collection in a “rushed and chaotic” manner. The administration had imposed a 120-day deadline that, according to the ruling, prevented meaningful engagement and adequate notice for the institutions affected.
The Trump administration initiated the data collection last August following concerns that colleges might be using personal statements and other proxies to indirectly factor race into admissions decisions. This came after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action policies allowing explicit consideration of race but permitted consideration of race-related experiences voluntarily disclosed in personal essays.
The requested data includes race, sex, grade-point averages, and standardized test scores for applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students, retroactively covering seven years. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) was tasked with gathering this information. The Education Department argued that taxpayers deserve transparency on admissions practices at federally funded institutions.
The plaintiffs, however, contend that the data collection risks invading student privacy and could lead to unfounded investigations into colleges. They also criticized the expedited timeline, saying it hampered universities’ ability to comply effectively. Michelle Pascucci, counsel for the plaintiffs, called the effort “hasty and irresponsible,” suggesting it was designed to identify purported illegal practices without adequate justification.
Alongside this effort, the Trump administration has separately sued Harvard University over alleged noncompliance with data requests meant to ensure the school’s admissions practices conform to the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling. Harvard maintains it is cooperating and following the law. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights recently ordered Harvard to provide the requested data within 20 days, threatening referral to the Department of Justice for enforcement.
Why it matters
This lawsuit and resulting injunction highlight ongoing legal and political conflicts over affirmative action and race-conscious admissions in U.S. higher education. The Trump administration’s attempt to gather detailed admissions data reflects a broader federal effort to enforce policies restricting consideration of race, raising concerns about privacy and administrative overreach. The ruling slows federal pressure on public universities to disclose admissions practices and may influence how similar policies are implemented nationwide.
Background
In 2023, the Supreme Court ended affirmative action programs that explicitly consider race but allowed race to be part of students’ narratives if applicants choose to include it in essays. Following this decision, the Trump administration sought to ensure colleges’ compliance by requiring detailed admissions data. Earlier settlement agreements with institutions like Brown University and Columbia University involved similar data disclosures tied to federal funding, setting precedent for the administration’s current approach.
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