Trump’s Bold Moves to Reshape Higher Education Accreditation
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive actions with the stated goal of cementing his conservative agenda in American education. In his first 100 days as president, Trump has launched a full-scale attack on higher education, dismantling decades of policy in mere months. The most recent order accuses university accreditors, which are independent of the US government, of having “abused their enormous authority.”
In short, the order promises to “overhaul the higher education accreditation system, ensuring colleges and universities deliver high-quality, high-value education free from unlawful discrimination and ideological overreach.”
Aiming to roll back policies from the Biden administration and implement significant changes, this directive seeks to punish accreditors for diversity criteria while easing the path for new quality-assurance bodies.
His order specifically mandates that accreditors must ensure institutions use program data on student outcomes “without reference to race, ethnicity, or sex.” These directives aim to curb DEI programs in higher education by scrutinizing accrediting bodies and increasing transparency regarding foreign funding to universities.
Additionally, there are new orders that focus on bolstering workforce training, supporting HBCUs, and establishing a task force for AI education in schools. These measures reflect an effort to reshape the American education system according to a conservative agenda.
Weaponizing Accreditation to Combat “Ideological Bias”
One of the key executive actions calls the Education Secretary to “overhaul” the college accreditation system. Accreditation is a crucial process that universities and colleges must undergo to receive federal financial aid, ensuring a baseline level of quality.
Trump has described accreditation as his “secret weapon” to combat what he perceives as ideological bias in higher education. The executive action seeks to use this process to hold colleges accountable for “ideological overreach” and promote “intellectual diversity” on campuses.
In order to achieve this, the U.S. Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, is to “resume recognizing new accreditors to increase competition and accountability” within the accreditation landscape. This builds upon previous actions during Trump’s first administration, where he eliminated restrictions that required schools to use accreditors based on geographic region.
On the other side, critics such as Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, view this as a move to “manipulate accreditors” to force colleges to align with the administration’s agenda and punish those who resist. He argues that Trump is “weaponizing the accreditation process” to gain leverage.
The White House, however, asserts that accreditors have “abused their authority by imposing discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards.”
DEI Programs in the Crosshairs
A major goal of this reform is the dismantling of DEI programs in higher education. Trump’s order alleges that DEI-based standards are discriminatory and politically motivated. His administration believes this pushes schools to adopt policies that don’t align with merit-based education.
By challenging the criteria accreditors use, many of which incorporate diversity standards, the Trump administration aims to reverse DEI advancements made under previous administrations, particularly during Biden’s term.
Transparency in University Foreign Funding: A New Priority
Finally, one of the executive actions focuses on increasing transparency regarding foreign funding received by universities. The order calls for “full and timely disclosure of foreign funding” if federal grants are to continue to flow to universities.
At the same time, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf stated that they believe some universities, including Harvard, have “routinely violated” existing federal law. He claims that the law stating the disclosure of foreign gifts or contracts worth $250,000 or more has not been effectively enforced.
Enforcement and Public Accountability Take Center Stage
While federal law already mandates the disclosure of significant foreign funding, this new order does not establish specific rules or thresholds. Instead, it asserts the importance of universities providing the American people with “greater access to general information about foreign funding.” This suggests a heightened emphasis on enforcing existing regulations and increasing public awareness of universities’ financial ties to foreign entities.
In response, a Harvard spokesperson has stated that the university has complied with the law for decades. Nevertheless, the administration’s focus signals a more assertive federal role in monitoring and potentially penalizing universities regarding their foreign financial relationships.
Massive Institutional Pushback Across the Country
This week, more than 500 U.S. university presidents signed a statement condemning the Trump administration. Describing the recent policy reform as “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” in higher education.
Following a period of relative silence, university leaders are increasingly mounting a more assertive defense against the Trump administration’s actions. These actions included orders, demands, and the freezing of billions in research funds. Additionally, more than 100 former university heads have called for a broad coalition to actively oppose “authoritarianism”.
Meanwhile, Harvard University initiated legal action against the administration regarding threats to cut $9 billion in federal funding over demands to address alleged antisemitism. Harvard’s president has characterized these demands as “unlawful, and beyond the government’s authority”.
This lawsuit follows other legal challenges by American higher education groups. Including one by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), concerning the revocation of student visas and detention of international students. 86 universities supported this with amicus briefs.
Trump Doubles Down on Accusations Against Elite Institutions
Despite mounting opposition, Trump continues to rail against elite institutions like Harvard. In posts on Truth Social, he has labeled the university a “threat to democracy” and an “Anti-Semitic, Far-Left Institution,” vowing to use every tool available, including accreditation reform, to change what is taught in American classrooms.
How Will Trump’s Agenda For Higher Ed Play Out?
Essentially, these executive actions represent a significant shift in the federal government’s approach to overseeing education. Some say it is a coordinated attempt to control what is taught in schools. They aim to exert greater direct influence on areas ranging from university accreditation and DEI initiatives to the financial transparency of universities.
The long-term impact of these changes will likely have a ripple effect for decades to come. What is clear is that they signal a move towards a more interventionist federal role in shaping the landscape of American education.
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