President Trump has just issued a new executive order - this time targeting university accreditation processes based on ideological grounds.

Mr. Trump’s order would make it easier for schools to switch accreditors and for new accreditors to gain federal approval, according to the White House. This way pushing schools to get accredited by Trump-approved accreditors, in order to get funding.

This order threatens the core principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

It aims to reshape higher education by pressuring accrediting bodies to enforce specific political agendas, particularly by dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and promoting a narrow definition of “intellectual diversity.”

Accrediting agencies are essential for maintaining educational standards and ensuring that institutions meet rigorous academic criteria. By politicizing these bodies, the administration risks undermining the quality and integrity of higher education in the United States.

“The federal government has long stayed away from any involvement in a college’s curriculum or hiring, and current law prohibits this kind of intrusion into academic affairs,” Bob Shireman, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation commented to NYT, adding that the executive order “steps far across this line.”

We call upon President Trump and his administration to immediately drop the executive order targeting school accreditors and threatening academic freedom.

Affirm the independence of accrediting agencies to operate free from political interference!

The strength of American higher education lies in its commitment to free inquiry, diverse perspectives, and institutional autonomy. We urge the administration to uphold these values and refrain from actions that compromise the integrity of our educational system.