BOSTON — A federal judge on Friday intervened to block the Trump administration's push to gather data aimed at showing that higher education institutions are not factoring in race in their admissions processes. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, comes from a preliminary injunction sought by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general.
Judge Saylor acknowledged that the federal government may possess the authority to collect such data but criticized the manner in which the requirements were presented to universities, describing the rollout as rushed and chaotic. He pointed to a strict 120-day deadline mandated by the President, which hindered meaningful engagement with educational institutions during the notice-and-comment process.
Amid the raising of concerns by Trump regarding alleged illegal discrimination in admissions practices—particularly involving personal statements and other proxies—the data collection initiative was initiated in August 2023.
In a broader context, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a related recent ruling, decided against the use of affirmative action in college admissions yet maintained that institutions could still consider the impact of race on applicants' lives as shared within their admissions essays.
The coalition of states opposing the data collection expressed apprehension about potential invasions of student privacy and the risk of unwarranted investigations into college admissions practices. It was argued that institutions had not been provided sufficient time to gather the necessary data.
“The data has been sought in such a hasty and irresponsible way that it will create problems for universities,” attorney Michelle Pascucci, representing the plaintiffs, asserted in court, suggesting that the initiative’s primary aim was to expose unlawful practices among colleges.
The Education Department defended its data collection efforts as a means to promote transparency regarding federal funding. They assert that taxpayers are entitled to know how their tax dollars are being utilized by colleges and universities.
Previously, the administration’s policy mirrored settlement agreements with major universities, including Brown and Columbia, which were persuaded to provide admissions data in exchange for reinstated federal research funding. This information included race as well as academic performance metrics of applicants and students.
As per new directives, the National Center for Education Statistics is mandated to accumulate data on the race and gender of applicants, accepted students, and enrolled individuals, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon indicating that detailed reports must encompass data retroactively for the past seven years.
Failure to adhere to the submission of accurate data may prompt actions from the administration under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, enforcing compliance for colleges benefiting from federal financial assistance.
Simultaneously, the Trump administration has pursued legal action against Harvard University for non-compliance with similar data demands, ensuring the institution’s adherence to the recent affirmative action ruling.
