Trump is set to request data from colleges to ensure they're not considering race in their admissions processes.

US President Donald Trump is set to sign a memorandum on Thursday that will require colleges receiving federal funding to disclose more detailed admissions data, according to the White House. This move is aimed at ensuring that schools comply with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling against affirmative action. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the administration will mandate universities to prove they aren’t using race as a factor in their admissions processes. “Transparency” is the key focus here. A senior official from the White House told ABC News that the directive will assign the Secretary of Education the task of broadening the admissions data that schools must report, emphasizing the need for “transparency” in higher education. A fact sheet reviewed by ABC News highlights that “the lack of available admissions data from universities raises concerns about whether race is actually used in admissions decisions in practice.” The new reporting requirements will include details on applicants’ race, test scores, and academic achievements. The White House aims to ensure that admissions processes are free from unlawful discrimination. Additionally, the fact sheet mentions that the Department of Education will be instructed to update its website to make admissions data “more efficient, easily accessible, and presented in a way that’s clear for parents and students.” This directive comes on the heels of recent agreements with Columbia and Brown universities, which have consented to release comprehensive admissions data, including racial information, after lengthy discussions with the Trump administration regarding federal funding. These settlements have ignited a national conversation about academic freedom, government oversight, and the role of race in college admissions.

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