US judge gives universities in 17 states more time to comply with Trump race data demands

By Nate Raymond

March 24 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday extended a looming deadline for public universities in 17 states to turn over data sought by President Donald Trump's administration so it can determine if they no longer consider race as an admissions factor.

• U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor pushed out to April 6 a deadline for universities in 17 mostly Democratic-led states to complete a U.S. Department of Education-administered survey seeking the data.

• Saylor extended a temporary restraining order he previously issued but narrowed scope to no longer apply nationwide.

• The Education Department wants schools to provide seven years of admissions data on the race and sex of students to track compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling ending affirmative action in higher education.

• The department altered an Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System survey at the direction of Trump, who cited universities' "rampant use" of "hidden racial proxies."

• The survey is "riddled with problems," Michelle Pascucci, a lawyer with Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's office, argued during hearing.

• Justice Department attorney Brittany Bruns argued the Education Department complied with regulatory requirements.

• Saylor questioned how the Education Department could legally certify it allocated resources to efficiently manage data given Trump's efforts to "abolish" the department.

• Saylor said he plans to issue any preliminary injunction decision by April 3.

Read more:

US judge temporarily blocks Trump effort to secure race data from colleges

Democratic-led states sue over Trump demand for colleges to supply race data