Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education

On April 23, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, aiming to overhaul the U.S. accreditation system for colleges and universities. The order argues that accreditors—who determine which institutions can receive federal student aid—have failed to ensure educational quality and have promoted unlawful “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) standards that prioritize ideology over outcomes. The order criticizes accrediting bodies for allowing low graduation rates, costly degrees with poor job returns, and discriminatory DEI mandates that may violate Supreme Court precedent. It specifically targets the American Bar Association and medical school accreditors for enforcing diversity-based requirements deemed unconstitutional. To address these issues, the order directs the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to hold accreditors accountable, potentially revoking their recognition if they enforce unlawful standards. It also outlines new student-focused principles, such as improving academic quality, supporting intellectual diversity, streamlining accreditation changes, and increasing transparency and competition among accreditors—all to ensure students receive a high-value education without unnecessary ideological pressure or financial burden.