The U.S. Department of Education announced on Thursday that it is rescinding several longstanding “disparate impact” regulations aimed at preventing policies and practices that result in unintentional discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. These rules, in place for decades, have served as a cornerstone for addressing systemic inequities in educational institutions.

Disparate impact regulations allow enforcement agencies to challenge policies that, while not explicitly discriminatory, disproportionately harm protected groups. The Education Department’s decision to roll back these rules marks a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement in education.

In response, a coalition of 60 civil rights and education organizations issued a joint statement condemning the move. They argued that the regulations are essential to safeguarding students from systemic discrimination and ensuring equal educational opportunities. The groups warned that removing these protections could exacerbate existing disparities in schools across the country.

Critics of the rollback view the action as part of a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to weaken diversity and inclusion initiatives. Supporters of the decision contend that the prior regulations imposed onerous compliance burdens on schools and allowed for overreach by federal authorities.

The department has not outlined specific replacement policies or procedures to address concerns related to unintentional discrimination. The change is expected to affect how educational institutions are held accountable for inequities, potentially altering the landscape of civil rights enforcement in the education sector.