The Department of Education moved this month to reshape federal oversight of accreditation, signaling a sustained campaign to prioritize graduation rates, earnings and 'academic rigor' over diversity initiatives. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent led the charge at a Dec. 16 NACIQI meeting, criticizing accreditors for permitting what his office called "divisive ideology" and pushing for new recognition pathways for alternative accreditors. Jay Greene, a Heritage Foundation–aligned scholar, was chosen as NACIQI chair after a tied vote, underscoring the administration’s influence over the advisory body. The department has framed the effort as regulatory reform tied to President Trump’s April executive order on accreditation. Education officials said they will open pathways for new accrediting bodies and tie recognition more tightly to completion and earnings metrics. Legal experts warn that the shift could alter compliance and federal funding stakes for colleges, particularly those with strong DEI programs or nontraditional academic models. Colleges and regional accreditors are now assessing how new expectations could affect institutional reviews, federal recognition timelines and program eligibility for Title IV funding. For compliance officers and chief academic officers, the immediate task is mapping current reporting frameworks against the department’s stated priorities and preparing for possible rulemaking or heightened NACIQI scrutiny.