Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Mar. 11 that he has joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new federal data reporting requirements for colleges and universities. The suit targets recent changes to the Integrated Postsecondary Education System (IPEDS), which now require higher education institutions to provide additional student information to the Department of Education.
The attorneys general argue that these new requirements threaten student privacy and could expose schools to unwarranted investigations. They say the changes were implemented too quickly, leaving institutions at risk of making mistakes that could result in penalties. The coalition also claims that the requested data is overly detailed and could make it possible to identify individual students.
Raoul said, “The Department of Education’s demand represents the latest push by the administration to malign lawful diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. This requirement imposes undue burdens on higher education institutions and presents a real risk to student privacy.”
According to the press release, IPEDS has been used since 1986 as a tool for collecting reliable statistical data from colleges participating in federal financial aid programs. However, an Aug. 7, 2025 memo from President Trump directed that IPEDS be used specifically to track how universities consider race in admissions decisions following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
The lawsuit alleges that not only does this shift put sensitive information such as income, test scores, and grade point averages at risk, but it also creates confusion due to unclear definitions and reduced staffing within the Department of Education offices responsible for clarifying requirements. The attorneys general contend these actions are unlawful and place unnecessary burdens on educational institutions.
Raoul’s office has a history of advocating for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants, and seniors according to its official website. It handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities and environmental rights issues according to its official website, extends advocacy across Illinois according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing for consumer fraud or civil rights violations according to its official website.
Joining Raoul in this legal action are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington.