Trump Enacts Executive Order Tightening University Accreditation Standards

President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders targeting U.S. higher education, focused on tightening college accreditation standards, enforcing full disclosure of foreign funding, and shifting away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in favor of merit-based evaluation. The measures aim to bolster requirements for colleges to access federal student aid, freeze funding for institutions failing to address antisemitism, and hold accrediting bodies accountable for perceived ideological bias. Universities that do not comply with new foreign funding disclosure laws risk losing federal grants, with the administration citing concerns over national security and academic integrity. Additional directives promote AI education, enhanced job training in skilled trades, and support for historically Black colleges and universities through federal summits. The moves have been met with strong criticism from university leaders, who argue they constitute government overreach and political interference, while at least one major university has filed a lawsuit in response to threatened funding cuts. Trump and his administration have characterized these efforts as necessary to protect American values and combat what they describe as excessive left-wing influence in higher education.