A federal judge halted President Trump’s executive order requiring public colleges to submit detailed race-based admissions data, dealing a temporary setback to the administration’s effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in higher education.

Court Declares Data Collection ‘Arbitrary and Chaotic’

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV granted a preliminary injunction Friday blocking the Trump administration from forcing public colleges in 17 Democrat-led states to submit admissions records. The judge ruled the 120-day deadline represented “rushed and chaotic” policymaking that “epitomizes arbitrary and capricious agency action.” While acknowledging the federal government likely possesses authority to seek information identifying discrimination patterns, Saylor found the administration’s approach violated proper procedures. The coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general argued the reporting requirements would invade student privacy and burden universities with unwarranted federal investigations.

Administration Defends National Security Concerns

Trump issued the executive order last August seeking race and sex data broken down across seven years of admissions records. The administration argued the transparency measures ensure colleges comply with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision ending affirmative action while protecting national security interests. “Race-based admissions practices are not only unfair, but also threaten our national security and well-being,” the executive order stated. The policy threatened penalties under Title IV of the Higher Education Act for schools failing to provide timely, complete and accurate data. The administration separately sued Harvard University for refusing to provide similar admissions records demanded by the Justice Department.

Settlement Precedent Established With Elite Universities

The data collection policy mirrors settlement agreements reached with Brown University and Columbia University, which restored their federal research funding. Both institutions agreed to provide the government comprehensive data on race, grade-point averages and standardized test scores for applicants, admitted students and enrolled students. The universities also accepted government audits and committed to releasing admissions statistics publicly. These settlements established a framework the administration sought to expand across all federally-funded colleges through the now-blocked executive order. The legal battle continues as the Trump administration evaluates its options following the preliminary injunction.