The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued the order on April 3, pausing enforcement of the data collection mandate while the underlying lawsuit proceeds. The ruling temporarily exempts state colleges and universities in the plaintiff states from complying with what the coalition described as a sweeping new federal data collection mandate.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 16 other attorneys general filed the lawsuit last month challenging the Department of Education's requirements. In her announcement of the court victory, James stated, "This administration's crusade against DEI is dangerous."
James warned that students should not have to live in fear that their personal data will be handed over to the federal government. She added that schools should not have to scramble to produce years of sensitive information to satisfy what she termed an "arbitrary and unlawful demand."
The preliminary injunction provides immediate relief from requirements to produce detailed admissions records. The court's order protects public institutions while the coalition's legal challenge moves forward through federal court.
James emphasized her office's commitment to continuing the legal fight, stating she was "grateful the court acted swiftly to protect our public institutions while our case moves forward, and we will continue fighting to block this mandate for good."
The legal challenge highlights tensions between state and federal authorities over the scope of federal data collection powers in the education sector. The case proceeds as a constitutional and statutory challenge to the Department of Education's enforcement of the data mandate.