Trending Now - Judge Stops Trump’s Move to Mandate Race-neutral Admissions Data

WHO:

Fox News - U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV

ABC News - Trump administration

ABC News - Coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general

ABC News - Education Secretary Linda McMahon

ABC News - Harvard University

WHAT:

Fox News - A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from forcing public colleges in 17 Democrat-led states to submit race data.

ABC News - The judge halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data proving that higher education institutions aren’t considering race in admissions.

ABC News - The ruling applies only to public universities in the states that filed the lawsuit.

ABC News - The Trump administration ordered the data collection in August 2025.

ABC News - The Education Department's policy requires colleges to submit data on race, grade-point average, and standardized test scores of applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students.

WHERE:

Fox News - Boston, Massachusetts

ABC News - Public colleges in 17 Democrat-led states

WHEN:

ABC News - The ruling was issued on Friday, April 1st, 2026.

ABC News - The data was originally due by March 18th, 2026.

ABC News - The lawsuit was filed in March 2026.

WHY:

ABC News - Trump raised concerns that colleges and universities were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race, which he views as illegal discrimination.

ABC News - The states argue that the data collection risks invading student privacy and could lead to baseless investigations of colleges and universities.

ABC News - The judge noted that the demand was rolled out in a “rushed and chaotic” manner.

HOW:

ABC News - The National Center for Education Statistics is tasked with collecting the new data.

ABC News - The Trump administration has stated that if colleges fail to submit timely, complete, and accurate data, McMahon can take action under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 13:16 UTC)

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked Trump from enforcing a policy that would require public colleges in 17 Democrat-led states to submit race data related to admissions. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, halts the Trump administration's efforts to collect this data, which was originally due March 18th, and comes amid concerns from the states that such collection could invade student privacy. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has stated that failure to provide accurate data could lead to actions under the Higher Education Act of 1965.