Judges in two states blocked the Education Department’s “Dear Colleague” letter, which sought to end consideration of race in virtually all aspects of campus life.

The Education Department had given states until Thursday to certify compliance with its controversial interpretation of civil rights law. Federal judges complicated that effort hours before the deadline.

A federal judge on Thursday blocked actions by President Trump’s Department of Education that aimed to force public universities and K-12 schools to get rid of diversity, equity and