President Donald Trump’s initiative to scrutinize race-based admissions in U.S. universities faced a setback when a federal judge in Boston issued a temporary injunction on Friday.
U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV ruled that the Trump administration cannot compel public universities in 17 states, which are led by Democrats, to provide detailed admissions data that would demonstrate their compliance regarding non-discriminatory practices related to race.
While acknowledging that the federal government intends to gather this data to “identify potential problems” and patterns of discrimination, Saylor criticized the 120-day deadline imposed by the executive order as “rushed and confusing,” suggesting it reflected “arbitrary and capricious actions by government agencies.”
This decision comes alongside the Trump administration’s educational overhaul announced earlier this year, where the government aimed to return control over certain educational functions to the states. The new directive included a brief timeline for submitting racial data relating to college admissions.
A coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against this initiative, arguing that the reporting requirements violate student privacy rights, place undue burdens on universities, and could lead to unwarranted federal scrutiny.
Judge Saylor’s decision indicates that the plaintiffs have made a compelling case that their claims against the agency’s actions—described as “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion”—are likely to succeed. He also noted that not granting the injunction could result in immediate and irreparable harm, favoring the plaintiffs’ request for preliminary injunctive relief.
The administration argued that this data collection is vital to ensure compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in admissions while still allowing applicants to discuss the impact of race in their essays. Trump’s order stated that race-based admissions practices are not only unjust but also threaten national well-being.
The proposed policy demands that universities provide race- and gender-specific admissions data, retroactively for seven years. Non-compliance could lead to penalties, reinforcing the administration’s insistence on transparency from colleges receiving federal funding. Following negotiations, several universities, including Brown and Columbia, have agreed to share admission data and participate in periodic audits.
Furthermore, the administration also filed lawsuits against Harvard University, alleging that it failed to supply necessary admissions data linked to affirmative action policy compliance. Harvard counters this claim by stating it is adhering to the government’s directions as per the Supreme Court ruling.
For now, Judge Saylor’s injunction is specifically applicable to public agencies in the 17 Democratic-led states, a situation that may evolve as cases progress.
