Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Collecting University Student Race Data

University Admissions Race-Based Data Collection·April 4 – April 5, 2026

21 days ago

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Collecting University Student Race Data

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to stop a Department of Education initiative that required public universities to provide data on the race of their applicants preliminary injunction. The Trump administration intended to use this data to ensure colleges were not using race in their admissions decisions Department of Education requirement. The court order currently pauses the demand for student data in 17 states while legal challenges continue 17 states. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV ruled that the government cannot force colleges to provide these records for admissions monitoring federal judge halted. This decision prevents the White House from requiring schools to prove they are following affirmative action bans until the court makes a final ruling.

Federal judge halts White House effort to collect university data on applicants' raceTrump administration can't make colleges provide race-related data, judge rulesJudge halts Trump effort requiring colleges to show they aren't considering race in admissions

Key Statements

TThe Guardian

“Federal judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issues a preliminary injunction halting a Trump administration initiative to collect data on university applicants' race for admissions monitoring.”

Identifies the specific judge and the legal action taken to stop the policy.

RReuters

“A federal judge blocked a Department of Education requirement for public universities in 17 states to provide race-related data to monitor compliance with affirmative action bans.”

Confirms the scope of the order and the specific government agency involved.

News

Judge Pauses Trump Demand for Student Race Data in 17 States

The New York TimesCenter Left

Judge halts Trump effort requiring colleges to show they aren't considering race in admissions

Washington PostCenter Left

Federal judge halts White House effort to collect university data on applicants' race

The GuardianCenter Left

Trump administration can't make colleges provide race-related data, judge rules

ReutersCenter

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