An American judge blocks the Trump-era college admissions database, describing it as “chaotic.”
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s push to collect detailed admissions data from universities to verify compliance with a ban on admissions based on race, according to a report by the Associated Press (AP).
The ruling comes amid a broader legal battle over how the federal government will implement a 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action.
The court points out procedural gaps in the data request
U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, siding with a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the directive, the AP reported. The matter applies to public universities in the plaintiff states.Although it acknowledged that the federal government likely had the authority to request such data, the court found the implementation to be deeply flawed. Judge Saylor noted that the administration imposed a 120-day deadline that led to a “hasty and chaotic” launch, which prevented meaningful consultation with institutions.The ruling also criticized the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for failing to adequately engage universities during the notice and comment process, raising concerns about procedural lapses.
States cite privacy risks and compliance burden
The lawsuit argued that data collection efforts could jeopardize students’ privacy and expose institutions to unwarranted federal scrutiny. States also asserted that universities were not given sufficient time to compile and report on the comprehensive data sets required.Citing court proceedings, the Associated Press noted that attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that the directive appeared intended to uncover violations rather than ensure compliance, warning that it would create operational challenges for institutions.
The policy is linked to the enforcement of affirmative action
The order to collect the data stems from a directive issued by President Donald Trump in August, which was issued after concerns that universities were using indirect methods — such as personal essays — to take race into account when making admissions decisions.As the AP reported, this follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting explicit use of race in admissions while allowing applicants to discuss how race impacts their experiences.Under the policy, colleges are required to provide disaggregated data on applicants, admitted and enrolled students by race and gender, with retrospective reporting spanning seven years. Failure to comply could result in sanctions under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, which could impact access to federal student aid.
Wider pressures on elite institutions
The administration has defended the move as necessary for transparency at federally funded institutions.
According to the AP, similar data-sharing requirements were part of settlement agreements with Brown University and Columbia University, allowing them to recover federal research funding in exchange for disclosures and audits.In a parallel development, the administration also filed a lawsuit against Harvard University over similar data requests. The Associated Press reported that federal officials warned that the university could face legal consequences if it fails to comply within the specified timeline.