Federal oversight of accreditation became a flashpoint as the Education Department restructured the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and signaled plans to reshape accreditors’ role. The committee’s seating and voting changes—introduced by the department—produced a contentious first meeting and the appointment of a conservative-aligned chair, prompting debate about partisanship in accreditation oversight. Separately, a senior Trump administration official publicly vowed to ‘‘fix accreditation,’’ signaling potential regulatory changes that could alter how accreditors qualify institutions for federal student aid. University leaders, accreditors, and policymakers warned that rapid changes risk operational disruption for colleges that depend on stable accreditation processes to maintain access to Title IV funding. The developments raise immediate stakes for institutional governance, quality assurance, and the timelines for schools undergoing review. Colleges with pending accreditation actions told multiple outlets they are preparing for a more intrusive federal posture and faster timelines for policy enforcement.