Accreditation, once a procedural backstop for federal aid, has become a political battleground. The recent formation of a new accreditor by six Southern public systems follows Trump administration actions to limit diversity criteria in accreditation and to ease institution transfers between accreditors. Ten institutions have now sought recognition by the new Commission for Public Higher Education, signaling a regional realignment with potential federal implications. The shift could fragment national norms on quality assurance, affect Title IV eligibility pathways, and spark legal and regulatory debates over politicized accreditation standards. Institutional leaders must track new recognition petitions and assess the operational and credentialing risks tied to accreditors’ composition and priorities.