OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The state is taking the U.S. Department of Education to court over its efforts to monitor admissions at higher education institutions.
State Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against the department in federal court Wednesday, March 11 alongside 16 other attorneys general.
It came in response to the Department of Ed adding new survey requirements for colleges and universities that track admissions and outcomes of students based on their race and sex.
The move was made to investigate whether schools are complying with a Supreme Court decision that says race cannot be used as a factor in admissions.
The coalition of states claim that the implementation of the new requirements was rushed, which leaves the schools prone to inadvertent errors and unreliable data. They argue that could lead to costly penalties and unfounded investigations, while also jeopardizing student privacy.
Wednesday’s filing marks Brown’s 53rd lawsuit against the Trump administration since taking office in January 2025.
