Education Department moves to overhaul accreditation regulations
Natalie Schwartz
January 27, 2026
The agency wants to make it easier for new accreditors to gain recognition and to curb diversity, equity and inclusion standards, per a Federal Register notice.
Dive Brief:
The U.S. Department of Education intends to develop new regulations this spring to make it easier for new accreditors to gain recognition and curb diversity, equity and inclusion standards, per a notice published this week in the Federal Register.
Through a process called negotiated rulemaking, the Education Department plans to develop new policy language by bringing together different stakeholders — such as representatives for students, colleges and accreditors — in April and May.
Overhauling accreditation is a key plank of the Trump administration’s higher education agenda. Before retaking office in 2025, President Donald Trump called accreditation his “secret weapon” to reshaping higher education, saying he would fire what he described as “radical left” accreditors and open the door to new agencies.
