Judge temporarily halts Trump demand for race-based admissions data from universities

March 17, 2026 - 00:07

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting the Trump administration's recent demand for detailed, race-based admissions data from several prominent universities. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Massachusetts on Friday, pauses a controversial initiative launched by the Department of Justice.

The legal challenge was brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which argued the government's demand was overly broad, intrusive, and politically motivated. The universities contended that the request for over a decade of sensitive applicant data, including granular details on race and ethnicity, posed a significant burden and risked violating student privacy.

Judge Saylor found the schools demonstrated a likelihood of success on their claims and the potential for irreparable harm if the data collection proceeded immediately. The order freezes the government's demand while the court more fully considers the merits of the case. This legal development represents a significant, albeit temporary, setback for an administration effort that critics alleged was a fishing expedition aimed at dismantling affirmative action policies in higher education. The case is expected to continue with further briefings and arguments in the coming weeks.