The U.S. Department of Education awarded $14.5 million to projects aimed at reshaping accreditation, funding new accrediting entities and encouraging institutions to switch accreditors, according to multiple reports. The grants, distributed through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, fund at least 10 prospective accreditors and mirror an April 2025 executive order pushing accreditation reform. Recipients include established organizations and newcomers with limited prior experience in accreditation, raising questions about readiness and capacity. The awards are intended to spur alternatives to traditional regional accreditors and to promote innovation in program oversight, but critics warn of fragmentation and uneven quality control. Colleges and university leaders should track which accreditors emerge and how federal recognition criteria evolve; shifting accreditor relationships can affect federal financial aid eligibility, transferability, and institutional risk profiles.