The Council for Higher Education Accreditation released its annual report as the Education Department escalated oversight of accreditors, issuing warnings to two agencies over lingering DEI-related standards. Undersecretary Nicholas Kent directed the agencies to formally eliminate suspended DEI requirements or risk loss of recognition, while CHEA’s report reiterated standards and cautioned against misuses of accreditation processes. Accreditors and institutional leaders now face tightened federal scrutiny over standards tied to diversity and policy enforcement. Colleges that rely on third-party accreditation must monitor accreditor responses, potential recognition changes, and what revised standards mean for program approvals and federal aid eligibility.