Blue states sue Trump administration over new race-based reporting requirements for colleges

Seventeen Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over new race-based reporting requirements for universities targeting admissions, financial aid and student performance data.  

The lawsuit is challenging the new “Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement” (ACTS) survey that requires schools to provide years of admissions and student data broken down by race and other aspects to ensure schools aren’t engaging in affirmative action.  

It is a big change from the basic information the federal government has collected from schools over the years for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. 

The lawsuit says “the sheer amount of data sought through the ACTS survey would place a considerable burden” on colleges.  

The blue states argue the reporting requirements are costly and will be used as a tool by the administration to launch politically motivated investigations. The attorneys general of the states also argue the high demand of information will make it difficult for schools to produce usable data to the government on such short notice.

“The Trump Administration is on a fishing expedition — demanding unprecedented amounts of data from our colleges and universities under the guise of enforcing civil rights law,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who represents one of the lead states in the lawsuit.  

“This is the same administration, I’ll remind you, that gutted the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, leaving thousands of civil rights complaints and investigations in limbo. This latest sham demand threatens to turn a reliable tool into a partisan bludgeon. California is committed to following the law — and we’re going to court to make sure the Trump Administration does the same,” Bonta added. 

The other states involved are New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington.

The Hill has reached out to the Education Department for comment.  

The states say without court intervention schools will go through a costly process that could lead to unusable data and more leverage for the Trump administration to target institutions. If universities refuse, they will face other government penalties.  

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Key takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: Georgia, Mississippi, New Hampshire

Thune quashes Trump push to reform filibuster for SAVE Act

The return-to-the-office trend backfires

Swalwell says staffer flew to Colombia to return hearing aid to deported ...

A mega-deal to end the war

Live results: Georgia special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

Democratic senator says US ‘seem to be’ on path toward deploying American ...

Odds of a ‘Super El Nino’ growing, model shows. What that could mean

In ICE masking debate, these former officers say take them off

Republicans eye second GOP-only megabill, but it faces uphill climb

Speaker Johnson floats using reconciliation to address alleged fraud in blue ...

Erika Kirk appointed to Air Force Academy board

Democrat who advanced to runoff for Greene seat: Trump appearance ‘made ...

Rand Paul: Midterms will be ‘disastrous’ for Republicans

Joe Rogan: Trump supporters ‘feel betrayed’ by ‘insane’ Iran war

Live updates: With Iran war ‘going great,’ Trump heads to Ohio, Massie’s ...

Thompson fends off challenger to win Mississippi primary

Democrats flip New Hampshire House seat in special election 

© The Hill