Federal Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Collect Race Data from Colleges

Ruling halts administration's demand that universities prove they don't consider race in admissions

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:39pm

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A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's effort to require colleges and universities to provide data proving they do not consider race in their admissions processes. The judge ruled that while the federal government likely has the authority to collect such data, the administration's demand was implemented in a 'rushed and chaotic' manner.

Why it matters

The ruling is a setback for the Trump administration's push to limit the use of affirmative action in higher education admissions. The data collection effort was seen as a precursor to potential legal action against universities over their consideration of race as a factor in admissions.

The details

U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston granted the preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. The injunction only applies to public universities in the plaintiff states for now, but could set a precedent for a broader block on the administration's data collection efforts.

  • The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by the coalition of state attorneys general.
  • Judge Saylor issued the preliminary injunction on Friday, April 6, 2026.

The players

U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV

The federal judge who granted the preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's data collection effort.

Coalition of 17 Democratic State Attorneys General

The group of state legal officials who filed the lawsuit that led to the injunction.

Trump Administration

The federal government under former President Trump that sought to require universities to prove they do not consider race in admissions.

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What they’re saying

“The federal government likely has the authority to collect the data, but the demand was rolled out to universities in a 'rushed and chaotic' manner.”

— Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, U.S. District Court Judge

What’s next

The preliminary injunction only applies to public universities in the plaintiff states for now, but the ruling could set a precedent for a broader block on the administration's data collection efforts nationwide.

The takeaway

This ruling represents a setback for the Trump administration's push to limit affirmative action in college admissions, at least in the short term. The judge's concerns about the 'rushed and chaotic' rollout of the data collection effort suggest the administration may need to rethink its approach if it wants to successfully compel universities to prove they don't consider race.