Judge halts Trump effort requiring colleges to show they aren’t considering race in admissions

April 5, 2026 - 03:30

A federal judge in Boston has issued a preliminary injunction, halting a Trump administration initiative that sought to compel colleges and universities to prove they are not considering race in their admissions processes. The order was granted on Friday, effectively stopping the Department of Education's data collection efforts.

The challenged policy required higher education institutions to submit extensive documentation and evidence demonstrating their admissions practices are race-neutral. This initiative was widely seen as an escalation of the administration's broader push against affirmative action programs. The lawsuit against it argued the demand was overly burdensome, arbitrary, and exceeded the department's legal authority.

In her ruling, the judge found the plaintiffs, which include prominent universities and educational associations, are likely to succeed in proving the administration's demands are unlawful. The court determined the government's approach imposed significant compliance costs and administrative burdens on schools without a clear statutory basis.

This legal decision represents a significant setback for one of the administration's key higher education priorities. It ensures that, for now, colleges will not be forced to divert resources to gather and submit the extensive materials demanded by the federal government regarding their admissions criteria. The case continues to move through the judicial system.