Judge Blocks Trump Demand for Student Race Data in 17 States

The ruling temporarily halts the administration's effort to collect detailed admissions data from public colleges to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:06am

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A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot demand detailed student admissions data from public colleges in the 17 states that are suing over the demand, pending a further decision in the case. The initial temporary restraining order had applied to all colleges nationwide, but the judge later limited the order to public schools in the 17 mostly left-leaning states that sued the Education Department.

Why it matters

The coalition of Democratic state attorneys general suing the administration said the policy was a rushed attempt to politicize the National Center for Education Statistics, a nonpartisan agency, by using it to crack down on admission policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The ruling is a setback for the Trump administration's efforts to roll back affirmative action policies at colleges across the country.

The details

The judge's ruling extends an earlier order that temporarily blocked the Education Department from enforcing a deadline for the colleges to provide student application data on race, gender, test scores and other information from the past seven years. The states described the policy as 'error-ridden and confusing' and argued that compliance could jeopardize the accuracy of the requested data.

  • On April 4, 2026, a federal judge issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration from demanding detailed student admissions data from public colleges in 17 states.
  • The initial temporary restraining order had applied to all colleges nationwide, but the judge later limited the order to public schools in the 17 mostly left-leaning states that sued the Education Department last month.

The players

Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV

A federal district court judge in Boston who issued the ruling blocking the Trump administration's demand for student admissions data.

Letitia James

The New York attorney general who commended the ruling, stating that 'students should not have to live in fear that their personal data will be handed over to the federal government.'

Linda McMahon

The education secretary who previously said the policy was a way to ensure colleges were not considering race in admissions after the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling effectively outlawing race-conscious affirmative action.

Association of American Universities

A higher education association that filed a motion to join the lawsuit against the Trump administration's demand for student admissions data.

Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

A higher education association that filed a motion to join the lawsuit against the Trump administration's demand for student admissions data.

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What they’re saying

“This administration's crusade against D.E.I. is dangerous. Students should not have to live in fear that their personal data will be handed over to the federal government, just as schools should not have to scramble to produce years of sensitive information to satisfy an arbitrary and unlawful demand.”

— Letitia James, New York Attorney General

“The policy, which was ordered by President Trump in August, was a way to ensure that colleges were not considering race in admissions after a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2023 effectively outlawed race-conscious affirmative action.”

— Linda McMahon, Education Secretary

What’s next

The judge's ruling is a temporary measure, and the case will continue to be litigated. The Education Department has not yet responded to the ruling, and it remains to be seen if they will appeal the decision.

The takeaway

This ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to roll back affirmative action policies at colleges across the country. The decision highlights the ongoing legal and political battles over diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education admissions.