The U.S. Department of Education signaled a regulatory push to reshape accreditation while Education Under Secretary James Kent publicly criticized accreditors’ oversight, arguing they’ve failed to hold institutions accountable. The Department’s Federal Register notice and follow-up guidance aim to ease market entry for new accreditors and curtail diversity, equity and inclusion standards in recognition processes. Kent used a CHEA conference platform to argue accreditors have not protected students or taxpayers, pledging administrative reforms. Accreditation bodies and university associations warned new rules could destabilize quality assurance and heighten legal exposure for colleges already facing political scrutiny. Accreditation touches financial aid eligibility, program approval and federal oversight; any regulatory rewrite will alter how universities document student outcomes, governance and equity practices. Observers expect legal challenges and a fast-moving rulemaking fight that will matter to institutional leaders, accrediting agencies and state higher‑education systems.