Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Race Data Collection in College Admissions

Sat Apr 04 2026 20:44:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A federal judge halts an initiative aimed at collecting racial data from higher education institutions in admissions processes, siding with a coalition of Democratic attorneys general who argue it threatens privacy and fairness.

In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV has halted efforts by the Trump administration to gather data on whether universities are considering race in their admissions processes. The lawsuit, brought by 17 Democratic attorneys general, highlighted concerns over invasion of privacy and insufficient time for collecting data. The judge noted that the administration's approach was hasty and chaotic, potentially leading to unjust scrutiny of educational institutions. While the administration defends the effort as a move for transparency, the court's ruling underscores the ongoing debate over race and college admissions.

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data that proves higher education institutions aren’t considering race in admissions.

The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston granting the preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. It will only apply to public universities in plaintiffs.

The federal judge said the federal government likely has the authority to collect the data, but the demand was rolled out to universities in a “rushed and chaotic” manner. “The 120-day deadline imposed by the President led directly to the failure of NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) to engage meaningfully with the institutions during the notice-and-comment process to address the multitude of problems presented by the new requirements,” Saylor wrote.

President Donald Trump ordered the data collection in August after raising concerns that colleges and universities were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race, which he views as illegal discrimination.

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the use of affirmative action in admissions but stated colleges could still consider how race has shaped students’ lives if that information is provided in admissions essays.

The states argue the data collection risks invading student privacy and leading to baseless investigations of colleges and universities. They also contended that universities had not been given enough time to collect the data.

The Education Department has defended the effort, arguing taxpayers deserve transparency on how federal funds are spent.

Ultimately, the court’s decision emphasizes the ongoing conflict over race and admissions in higher education, and the implications for both schools and students.