The U.S. Department of Education’s under secretary, Nicholas Kent, sent formal letters this week to two accrediting bodies — the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education — directing them to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion standards that he says violate federal civil‑rights law. Kent told the agencies they must submit monitoring reports over the next year and warned the department could withdraw recognition if suspended DEI policies are enforced before they are formally rescinded. The move escalates the Trump administration’s campaign to curb DEI across higher education, citing the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on race‑conscious admissions as legal precedent. Middle States and the physical‑therapy accreditor previously suspended their DEI standards; the department’s letters make that suspension conditional and demand documentation of compliance steps. Colleges and accreditors will now face tighter scrutiny over standard‑setting and possible federal consequences for enforcement decisions.