Federal oversight of accreditation and legal attacks on campus practices intensified this month, with the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) convening under the Trump administration and judges issuing conflicting rulings on academic‑freedom disputes. NACIQI’s first meeting avoided a marquee fight—renewing recognition for major accreditors while probing student access and program ROI—but surfaced partisan tension over leadership and agenda. At the same time, federal courts issued mixed decisions: some state judges upheld laws limiting so‑called “divisive concepts,” while others found federal enforcement efforts against universities violated First Amendment protections. Legal scholars point to Sweezy v. New Hampshire as a reference point in recent rulings that carve new lines around academic freedom. The twin pressures—administrative attempts to reshape accrediting structures and a patchwork of court decisions—mean accreditation policy, institutional autonomy and campus speech rules are likely to be litigated and negotiated through 2026. Institutions and trustees should expect renewed scrutiny of accreditor practices, program outcomes, and regulatory compliance.