Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration’s Data Collection on College Admissions
A recent judicial decision has put a pause on the Trump administration’s attempts to gather data on how higher education institutions consider race in their admissions processes. This move comes in the wake of a lawsuit that challenges the legality and methodology of the data collection efforts.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by 17 Democratic state attorneys general. The lawsuit contends that the administration’s data collection was both rushed and chaotic, potentially infringing on student privacy.
Judge Saylor acknowledged that the federal government might have the authority to collect such data. However, he criticized the process, stating, “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.”
The data collection initiative was launched in August, following President Donald Trump’s concerns that colleges were using applications to indirectly consider race, which he deemed illegal discrimination. This action aligns with a Supreme Court decision in 2023 that limited affirmative action but allowed colleges to consider applicants’ personal narratives regarding race.
The states involved in the lawsuit argue that the hurried data collection could result in unwarranted scrutiny of institutions and violate student privacy. Michelle Pascucci, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, stated, “The data has been sought in such a hasty and irresponsible way that it will create problems for universities.”
Despite the pushback, the Education Department defends the initiative, claiming it ensures transparency in how federal funds are utilized by educational institutions. The administration’s plan mirrors previous agreements with Brown University and Columbia University, which involved data sharing and compliance audits in exchange for restored federal research funding.
The National Center for Education Statistics is tasked with gathering data about the race and sex of applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the need for data disaggregation by race and sex, with a deadline initially set for March 18. Colleges failing to comply risk losing federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Separately, the administration has taken legal action against Harvard University for not providing admissions data demanded by the Justice Department. Harvard argues it is in compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling and is cooperating with the government’s requests. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has mandated Harvard to meet data submission requirements within 20 days to avoid referral to the Justice Department.
