The Education Department signaled it intends to overhaul the U.S. accreditation system, calling accreditors a central target for reform, while the Commerce Department opened a comprehensive review of Harvard’s federally funded patents under the Bayh-Dole Act. The twin moves represent escalating federal scrutiny of universities’ regulatory and intellectual-property practices. Education reporting cites department messaging that reforming accreditors is a top priority; the president has described the accreditation system as a “secret weapon” for reshaping higher education. Separately, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Harvard President Alan Garber the agency will review whether federally supported inventions comply with Bayh-Dole obligations — including resurrecting the rarely used “march-in” provision. Taken together, the actions raise two operational pressures for campus leaders: accreditors may face new federal mandates or oversight changes that reshape program approvals and reporting, while tech-transfer offices and university counsel must prepare for intensified federal review of patent licensing and commercialization practices. Trustees, general counsels and VP research offices should reassess compliance portfolios and communication plans.