The U.S. Department of Education proposed sweeping changes to accreditation rules aimed at easing recognition of new accreditors and constraining diversity, equity and inclusion standards. The Federal Register notice signals the agency’s intent to alter how accreditors are vetted and what criteria they may enforce. Higher‑education officials reacted sharply. U.S. Undersecretary James Kent publicly blamed accreditors for failing to hold institutions accountable and urged reforms; the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and other sector groups warned that abrupt regulatory shifts could destabilize institutional oversight and complicate quality assurance. The dispute sets up a policy fight over accreditation’s role—whether it should be a vehicle for federal priorities or a protector of institutional autonomy—and could reshape institutional eligibility for federal funds and program integrity requirements if the rule changes proceed.