The U.S. Department of Education has launched a negotiated-rulemaking process to overhaul federal accreditation standards, moving to ease entry for new accreditors and reconsider diversity, equity and inclusion requirements. Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent signaled the initiative at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) meeting, telling accreditors they have “largely failed to hold colleges accountable.” Federal officials said the rewrite will target how accreditors evaluate quality, expand pathways for alternative accreditors and simplify compliance rules. The Education Dept. frames the changes as accountability reforms; accreditor representatives warned the process could threaten accreditor independence and complicate institutional oversight. Colleges should expect a rulemaking period with negotiated sessions, public comment and likely legal challenges.