Judge issues temporary restraining order in higher ed data case

The order extends the deadline to complete the ACTS survey through March 25, 2026.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:50pm

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A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order relating to a Trump Administration data demand to colleges and universities, a demand that a coalition of attorneys general from 17 states has challenged as unlawful. The order extends the deadline to complete the ACTS survey through March 25, 2026, and temporarily restrains the defendants from enforcing the original March 18, 2026 deadline.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government and states over data collection and privacy concerns in higher education. The coalition of state attorneys general argue the data demands are overly broad and unlawful, while the federal government contends the data is necessary for oversight and accountability.

The details

On March 11, the coalition of 17 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, challenging a Trump Administration data demand that would require colleges and universities to submit "a vast array of data" to a new component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The plaintiffs argued the new "ACTS survey" demands an "unprecedented scope of disaggregated data" and that the government has threatened penalties if the data is deemed incomplete or unsatisfactory.

  • The lawsuit was filed on March 11, 2026.
  • The original deadline for institutions to complete the ACTS survey was March 18, 2026.
  • The temporary restraining order was issued on March 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

The players

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV

The federal judge who issued the temporary restraining order.

Massachusetts, California, and Maryland

The three states co-leading the coalition of 17 state attorneys general that filed the lawsuit.

U.S. Department of Education

The federal agency named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Linda McMahon

The Secretary of Education named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Office of Management and Budget

The federal agency named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Russell Vought

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“In order to permit a hearing and orderly resolution of the issues, the court hereby issues a temporary restraining order extending the deadline to complete the ACTS survey through March 25, 2026, and temporarily restraining defendants from enforcing the deadline of March 18, 2026, without prejudice to a further extension of the deadline or other preliminary relief as justice may require.”

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

What’s next

The judge will hold a hearing to further consider the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction to block the data demands.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between states and the federal government over data collection and privacy concerns in higher education. The temporary restraining order provides a pause to allow for a more thorough review of the legality and scope of the Trump Administration's data demands.