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 policies that allowed federal agencies to challenge practices where policies appeared to disproportionately affect protected groups. Critics argue the change weakens protections under civil rights laws, while supporters say it reduces bureaucratic overreach in education and lending. The decision marks a significant shift in how discrimination cases may be evaluated under federal oversight.
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 ...
