Federal officials signaled a major rewrite of U.S. accreditation rules and accreditors are publicly bracing for change. At the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s annual meeting, accreditor leaders warned that the Department of Education’s negotiated-rulemaking will push easier recognition for new accreditors and constrain diversity, equity and inclusion standards. Jon Fansmith of the American Council on Education warned the sector is “very worried about the independence of accreditation,” a concern echoed by multiple regional and national agencies. The Education Department has already redirected grant funding to encourage new accreditors and told stakeholders it will pursue regulations to make recognition easier and to curb DEI-related requirements. The move follows the administration’s 2025 executive order directing accreditors to focus more on student outcomes and less on institutional practices. Accreditors and college leaders said this could reshape institutional oversight, federal aid eligibility and accountability processes nationwide. Institutions and accreditors told CHEA attendees they expect a compressed rule‑making timeline and growing legal and political scrutiny. Accreditation bodies said they will press for clearer standards to preserve independent peer review while preparing for a possible influx of new recognition petitions and policy shifts from the Education Department.