Federal officials signalled intensified scrutiny of accreditation this year, promising reforms aimed at accountability and alleged politicization. A senior Trump administration official told sector stakeholders to “buckle up,” foreshadowing regulatory pressure that could reshape accreditor authority and institutional eligibility for federal aid. The rhetoric, and pending actions from the Department of Education, have heightened concern within governing boards about external interference in academic standards and institutional operations. Institutional autonomy advocates and governance groups have responded by defending long-standing board independence and warning that aggressive federal intervention risks chilling academic freedom. Trustees will need to sharpen their oversight of compliance, Title IV eligibility, and external reporting while preparing legal and public‑affairs strategies to defend institutional governance structures if new federal rules press into curricular or personnel domains.