New York’s race-based STEM programs face constitutional challenges

April 18, 2026 - 18:58

A lawsuit has been filed against the New York State Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), alleging its race-based eligibility criteria are unconstitutional. The program, designed to support historically underrepresented students in STEM and licensed professions, is now accused of discriminating against white and Asian-American applicants.

The legal complaint argues that STEP's structure violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It contends that by explicitly limiting participation based on racial categories, the program engages in unlawful discrimination. This case emerges in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions that have curtailed the use of race in college admissions, setting a new legal landscape for educational programs nationwide.

State officials defend STEP as a vital pipeline for increasing diversity in critical technical fields, emphasizing its goal of leveling the playing field. However, critics assert that such initiatives must now find race-neutral methods to achieve their objectives. The lawsuit seeks a court order to prohibit the use of racial classifications in the program's admissions process, potentially forcing a significant redesign of this and similar state-funded educational efforts.

The outcome of this case could have broad implications for dozens of specialized educational programs across New York and may influence how states nationwide structure initiatives aimed at promoting diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Legal experts anticipate a protracted battle that will further define the permissible boundaries of equity programs in post-secondary education.