17 State AGs Sue Over Trump Admissions Data Rule

A coalition of 17 state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday in Boston challenging a Trump administration policy that mandates higher education institutions to submit detailed admissions data disaggregated by race and sex. The suit seeks to block the requirement, which applies to nearly 2,200 colleges and universities receiving federal student aid and demands retroactive reporting for the past seven years, with a deadline of March 18.

The policy originates from a presidential memorandum issued by President Donald Trump on August 7, 2025, directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to expand the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, or IPEDS, through a new Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement, or ACTS. IPEDS, in use since 1986, collects annual data from institutions participating in federal aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The expansion requires reporting on applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students, including race, sex, grade-point averages, standardized test scores, income ranges, acceptance rates, and enrollment figures.

Administration officials stated the measure ensures compliance with the...