A push to create and join new, politically driven accreditors is gaining traction in several states. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s podcast and recent announcements highlight how upstart agencies—like the Commission for Public Higher Education—are courting public systems and institutions seeking alternatives to existing regional accreditors. Louisiana’s Higher Education Reform Task Force voted to pursue membership in the nascent agency, and Appalachian State and North Carolina Central have applied to join early testing cohorts. Meanwhile the U.S. Department of Education named five new members to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), signaling federal attention on accreditation policy and institutional eligibility. Those appointments will play a central role as the department evaluates new accrediting bodies for federal recognition ahead of a 2027 approval timeline. Why it matters: changes in accreditation architecture would alter quality assurance, federal financial aid eligibility and institutional strategy. Institutions considering membership in nontraditional accreditors may face transition costs, federal scrutiny and uncertainty about credit transfer, program approval and long-term recognition by the Department of Education.