The Education Department appointed five new members to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), including several outspoken conservative figures, signaling a shift in the federal advisory lineup that oversees higher‑education accreditation policy. The committee advises the secretary on recognition of accrediting agencies and institutional eligibility for federal student aid. Observers say the new appointees could influence reviews of accreditor standards and federal oversight, at a time when institutions face funding pressures and heightened regulatory scrutiny. Accreditation specialists and university leaders are watching for changes that could tighten compliance requirements or reshape federal‑accreditation interactions.