Privacy enforcement action where Oregon AG and a coalition of 16 other states sue the Trump Administration to stop the Department of Education's new IPEDS data reporting requirements, arguing they jeopardize student privacy, lack proper definitions, and risk data errors and identification.
Seeking an injunction to block the Department of Education from implementing the new IPEDS data collection requirements and retroactive reporting demands.
In-house legal teams should review all agreements where the entity (e.g., colleges/universities) receives federal financial aid or handles student data, including federal aid compliance agreements, data processing addendums with the Department of Education, and vendor contracts involving student information. Specific clauses to scrutinize include data submission obligations, accuracy warranties, audit rights, indemnification for reporting errors, and privacy safeguards. Given the lawsuit's focus on rushed implementation, lack of definitions, and privacy risks, contracts may need amendments to: (1) define new data elements (e.g., race-neutral admissions criteria) clearly; (2) implement data validation and error-correction protocols; (3) restrict data use strictly to compliance with the stated IPEDS purpose; (4) address liability for inadvertent errors; and (5) ensure alignment with existing student privacy laws like FERPA, even if not explicitly cited.
Entity
Department of Education
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-sues-trump-to-stop-unlawful-data-demand-of-colleges-universities/
001 03112026 Complaint
https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/001-03112026-Complaint.pdf
Oregon Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/
"Department of Education"
"jeopardize student privacy and could lead to individuals being easily identified"
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, joined by 17 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to block new IPEDS data reporting requirements that demand student information disaggregated by race and sex. The coalition argues the rushed implementation is unlawful, invades student privacy, and risks unreliable data and baseless investigations. They seek an injunction to halt the data collection and protect student privacy.
The provided press release is a media release from the Oregon Department of Justice announcing a multistate press conference of attorneys general from Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada, and New York advocating for increased state resources to address antitrust enforcement gaps following reduced federal oversight. No privacy-related enforcement actions, violations, penalties, or remedies are described in the document.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield led a 24-state coalition in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s tariffs imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The U.S. Court of International Trade granted summary judgment to the states, ruling the tariffs illegal as they did not meet the statutory requirement of “large and serious balance-of-payment deficits.” The court invalidated the 10 percent tariffs on most global products, barring their enforcement.
Consumer protection and civil rights lawsuit filed by Oregon AG and 20 other states against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over unlawful funding conditions that coerce states into complying with policies unrelated to nutrition programs. The conditions relate to immigration, DEI, and gender identity, and are alleged to violate the Spending Clause and Administrative Procedure Act. The suit seeks to block these conditions to protect billions in funding for programs like SNAP, WIC, and school lunches that serve vulnerable populations.
Antitrust enforcement action where Oregon AG filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna, alleging it violates Clayton Act Section 7 by substantially lessening competition in broadcasting, which could harm local news and raise consumer prices.
Health enforcement action: Attorney General Rayfield led a coalition of 22 states and D.C. to secure a federal court order blocking the Trump Administration from threatening to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funding to healthcare providers that offer gender-affirming care to youth with gender dysphoria. The court ruled the administration's actions unlawful, protecting access to care and upholding the right to make personal healthcare decisions.