Day 551
July 24, 2026
2 incidents
- Significant Democratic Concern Civil Rights
Education and HHS Strip Disparate-Impact Protections From Civil Rights Rules Without Public Comment
On July 24, 2026, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services each published final rules, effective immediately and issued without notice and comment, eliminating disparate-impact liability from their regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The rules follow Executive Order 14281 and a December 2025 Justice Department rule doing the same. Federally funded schools, colleges, hospitals and health-care providers can no longer be found in violation of these agencies' Title VI rules for policies that have discriminatory effects on the basis of race, color or national origin; only intentional discrimination remains actionable. Sixty civil rights organizations warned the change will harm students of color.
- Major Abuse of Power Press Freedom
Government withdraws subpoenas
After the judge criticizes the department and says he would quash the subpoenas, the government withdraws them, admitting errors, and says it would return to court if new subpoenas were needed.