Supreme Court ends affirmative action as Biden pledges to continue diversity in education

The Supreme Court rules 6-3 (6-2 for Harvard due to Jackson recusal) in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and v. UNC that race-conscious college admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Chief Justice Roberts writes that college admission programs must be race-neutral. Justice Sotomayor's 69-page dissent argues the ruling "cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society." Biden calls the ruling a decision he "strongly, strongly disagrees" with, saying "We cannot let this decision be the last word." He directs HHS and DOJ to issue guidance within 45 days on what diversity practices remain lawful and urges colleges to consider adversity rather than race. Studies show Black and Hispanic enrollment at selective universities drops sharply following the ruling.