The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old rules that held institutions accountable for unintentional discrimination when statistical patterns revealed unequal treatment, even without proof of direct intent. The move reverses long-standing protections under disparate impact policies, which had been used to address systemic biases in education and hiring practices. Critics argue the change weakens safeguards against discrimination, while supporters claim it reduces burdensome legal risks for organizations. Legal experts warn the decision could reshape how civil rights cases are handled in federal programs.
The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday eliminated regulations going back more than 60 years that recognized liability for disparate impact, such as when statistics demonstrate a discriminatory ...
