BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data aimed at proving whether higher education institutions are considering race in admissions processes.
The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston, which grants a preliminary injunction, comes following a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. This ruling applies exclusively to public universities involved in the case.
Judge Saylor stated that while the federal government likely possesses the authority to collect such data, the demand was issued in a rushed and chaotic manner. He noted that 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. This engagement is vital for addressing substantial concerns regarding the new data collection requirements.
In August, President Donald Trump mandated the data collection following his contention that colleges were employing personal statements and other proxies to assess race during admissions, which he views as a form of illegal discrimination.
In a related note, the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against the use of affirmative action in college admissions also highlighted that colleges may still consider factors related to race if candidates choose to share those insights in their admissions essays.
The participating states in the lawsuit have further argued that the data collection risks infringing upon student privacy and could lead to unwarranted investigations into the practices of colleges and universities. They expressed concerns that the rushed timeline did not allow sufficient opportunity for institutions to gather accurate information.
Michelle Pascucci, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, stated in court, “The data has been sought in such a hasty and irresponsible way that it will create problems for universities,” questioning the motivations behind the administration's actions.
Despite this, the Education Department has defended its position by asserting that taxpayers deserve transparency regarding how federal funds are utilized by educational institutions.
The National Center for Education Statistics had been designated to collect data, which includes the racial and gender demographics of college applicants and those admitted and enrolled. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of comprehensive reporting going back seven years on these metrics.
