The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old rules that held institutions accountable for unintentional discrimination, even when statistical patterns revealed unequal treatment. The move reverses long-standing policies that addressed disparate impact—cases where policies or practices, though neutral on the surface, disproportionately harm protected groups. Critics argue the change weakens protections against systemic bias, while supporters claim it reduces regulatory burdens on schools and lenders. The decision marks a significant shift in how federal agencies interpret fairness in education and lending practices.
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 ...
