US federal judge halts Trump administration demand for university applicant race data
→Public university admissions offices in plaintiff states cannot be compelled to submit race data
Change
A US federal judge in Boston granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the Trump administration's 120‑day demand that public universities in the plaintiffs' states collect and submit applicants' race data.
Why it matters
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (the federal statute governing student financial aid and related enforcement authority) cannot be used to compel compliance at public universities in the plaintiffs' states while the injunction stands. Agencies must pause the rushed reporting requirement and cannot impose penalties under the administration's 120‑day timetable until the court resolves the procedural defects in the rollout.
Implications
- — Admissions offices and registrars at public universities in the plaintiffs' states must immediately stop collecting or transmitting applicants' race data in response to the administration's 120‑day demand — continuing to comply would conflict with the court's preliminary injunction and risk contempt proceedings.
- — Legal and compliance teams at public universities in the plaintiffs' states must immediately suspend reporting workflows tied to the federal demand and review outstanding requests — failing to halt transmissions exposes their institutions to litigation and court sanctions.
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Source
View on The Guardian