Executive Order 14279

Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education

Signed 2025-04-23 in effect
EducationHigher EducationAccreditation
Education

Reforms the college accreditation process.

Section by Section

What each section does, and how they differ.

Sec. 1 Purpose

Accreditors abuse authority by approving low-quality institutions and requiring discriminatory DEI standards; 64 percent six-year graduation rate demonstrates failure.

Sec. 2 Holding Accreditors Accountable for Unlawful Actions

Secretary holds accreditors accountable for unlawful discrimination through denial, monitoring, suspension, or termination; specific investigation of ABA, LCME, and ACGME required.

Sec. 3 New Principles of Student-Oriented Accreditation

Accreditation realigned to require high-quality programs free from unlawful discrimination, support intellectual diversity, and avoid credential inflation.

Sec. 4 General Provisions

Standard boilerplate: preserves existing agency authority, conditions the order on appropriations, and creates no enforceable private rights.