Trump Orders Universities to Provide Admissions Data to Prove Compliance With Affirmative Action Ban

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum requiring universities to collect and submit admissions data to demonstrate they are not shaping student bodies along racial lines, the White House said.

According to Reuters, the order directs the U.S. Department of Education to have the National Center for Education Statistics gather demographic information — including race and gender — from applicant pools, admitted students and enrolled undergraduates.

The memorandum follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The administration contends some universities have sidestepped the decision by using “diversity statements” from applicants that may reveal their race.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the directive is intended to ensure schools comply with the court’s ruling. The official said nothing in the decision prohibits collecting demographic data as long as it is not used in admissions decisions, and that universities should shield admissions officers from such information.

The move is the latest in the administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education. Officials have launched dozens of investigations and threatened to cut off federal funding to institutions that fail to comply.

The American Council on Education, the nation’s largest higher education policy and lobbying organization, criticized the memorandum’s wording as vague and warned it could run afoul of the law. Jonathan Fansmith, the group’s senior vice president, said collecting racial data from applicants may be prohibited under the very Supreme Court ruling the White House cites.

“You can’t consider race in admissions, so schools don’t collect data on race from applicants,” Fansmith said. “This seems to be an effort to get institutions to provide information that we don’t have and that we can’t collect.”

The council, which represents about 1,600 member institutions, said it will seek further clarification from federal officials.

The Education Department did not provide a timeline for when universities would be required to submit the data.