Federal Judge Halts Trump's Race-Based College Admissions Probe

Ruling blocks Trump administration's push to collect data on race in university admissions.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:50pm

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A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to investigate race-based admissions practices at U.S. colleges and universities. The ruling prevents the administration from collecting data on the racial makeup of student bodies across the country.

Why it matters

The Trump administration's push to scrutinize affirmative action policies in college admissions has been a controversial and divisive issue, with critics arguing it could lead to discrimination against minority applicants. The judge's ruling is a setback for the administration's agenda on this front.

The details

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued the temporary restraining order, siding with a coalition of civil rights groups that had sued to block the data collection effort. The groups argued the move was part of a broader attack on affirmative action and could discourage universities from considering race as a factor in admissions.

  • The ruling was issued on Friday, April 5, 2026.

The players

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV

The federal judge who issued the temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's data collection effort.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who initiated the push to investigate race-based admissions practices at colleges.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let the government use data collection as a pretext to attack affirmative action and equal opportunity in higher education.”

— Kristen Clarke, President of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

What’s next

The judge will hold a hearing on April 12th to determine whether to extend the temporary restraining order.

The takeaway

This ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to roll back affirmative action policies, underscoring the legal and political challenges it faces in pursuing this controversial agenda.