The Trump administration’s accreditation overhaul is honing in on specialized academic program accreditors—such as those overseeing nursing, physical therapy, and mental-health counseling—by limiting the influence of trade and professional associations in setting program standards. Education Department officials say some associations effectively collude with programmatic accreditors to raise degree requirements and costs. During negotiated rulemaking focused on overhaul regulations spanning 151 pages, officials emphasized that while institutional accreditors often gate federal student aid, programmatic accreditors still require federal recognition because their standards affect which students qualify for other aid streams (including grants administered by agencies such as Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs). Critics warn the approach could increase compliance costs and tuition pressure without guaranteeing improved educational outcomes. The Department’s negotiator Jeffrey Andrade said the proposed changes are aimed at standards that “don’t necessarily enhance quality,” and the sector should expect continued debate as the rules move through consensus and public comment.