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Judge Blocks Trump's College Admissions Data Directive

3/14/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A Boston federal judge blocked the directive issued by U.S. President Donald Trump requiring colleges to submit admissions data by March 18.
The ruling follows a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general who say it threatens privacy and imposes burdens.
Critics, including Letitia James (New York Attorney General), say the policy targets diversity and politicizes the National Center for Education Statistics.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger upheld affirmative action in higher education, allowing race to be a factor in admissions to promote diversity. However, subsequent initiatives like Michigan's Proposal 2 in 2006 sought to ban such practices. In 2023, the Court reversed this precedent, ruling that race-based admissions violate the Equal Protection Clause, intensifying the national debate on educational equity.

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Story summary

A Boston federal judge blocked the directive issued by U.S. President Donald Trump requiring colleges to submit admissions data by March 18.
The ruling follows a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general who say it threatens privacy and imposes burdens.
Critics, including Letitia James (New York Attorney General), say the policy targets diversity and politicizes the National Center for Education Statistics.

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