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U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the 24 documents many
of which gave advice to schools on how to deal with Supreme
Court decisions on race and admissions "were unnecessary,
outdated, inconsistent with existing law, or otherwise
improper."
It has the effect of bringing the federal government's position
on affirmative action close to that of the George W. Bush
administration which held that race could be considered only if
a university had no other way of achieving a diverse student
class.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled over a series of cases that
universities may use affirmative action to help minority
applicants get into college. Conservatives have argued such
programs can hurt whites and Asian-Americans.
The rules under Obama, a Democrat, were issued by the Department
of Justice and the Department of Education. They tell
universities and colleges that it is acceptable to use race as a
tool to achieve diversity. For example, one of the guidances,
"Question and Answers About Fisher v. University of Texas at
Austin," poses the question "Did the Supreme Court change what
colleges and universities must do to narrowly tailor their
admissions programs to meet the compelling interest in
diversity?" It answers, "No."
The Republican Trump administration's move is being viewed by
Democrats and liberals as a way to weaken affirmative action.
"The Administration’s rollback of vital affirmative action
guidance offends our nation’s values and promise of opportunity
for all," said Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. House of Representatives'
Democratic leader.
The Justice Department under President Donald Trump has been
investigating a complaint by more than 60 Asian-American
organizations that say Harvard University's policies are
discriminatory because they limit the acceptance of
Asian-Americans.
The department joined Students for Fair Admissions, the group
behind the case, which has urged the disclosure of "powerful"
evidence showing that Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Harvard is
violating Title VI of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. Title
VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and
national origin in programs and activities receiving federal
financial assistance.
Harvard says its admissions policies comply with U.S. laws and
that it has worked to boost financial aid to ensure economic, as
well as racial, diversity in its classes.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Damon Darlin; editing by Alistair
Bell and Grant McCool)
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