On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump called accreditation his “secret weapon.” Now, a year into his second term, education under secretary Nicholas Kent is the one wielding that weapon.
In year one, the Trump administration sought to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion as part of accreditation standards and steered money toward new market entrants. But in year two, the federal government appears poised to ramp up its efforts to overhaul accreditation by rewriting current regulations this spring, as announced Monday.
On Tuesday, Kent offered more insights into what lies ahead in remarks at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s annual conference, held in Washington, D.C. Kent has previously accused accreditors of failing to hold flailing institutions accountable for poor student outcomes and cast such agencies as “a tool for political and ideological enforcement,” and he repeated those themes Tuesday as he laid out plans for the coming accreditation overhaul.
Calls for Reform
In a 35-plus-minute speech at CHEA, Kent cast accreditation as fundamentally broken.
“I want to start by saying a bold and uncomfortable truth: Accreditation today is no longer a reliable indicator of the gold standard of education,” Kent said.
His rhetoric carried similar refrains to past comments as he railed against what he called the “accreditation-industrial complex.” He argued that such agencies have become a monopoly, particularly at the programmatic level, and that they have “have not lived up to their responsibility.” He also accused them of colluding to block new entrants from the market. Throughout his remarks, he emphasized the need for a strong return on investment for students.
Kent also attributed the plunging public approval of higher education to poor student outcomes, for which he blamed accreditors and their failure to hold colleges accountable. He argued that failures by accrediting bodies necessitated overdue reforms “to make the system more accountable, more competitive and more merit-based for students, families and the American taxpayer.”
The under secretary said the Department of Education plans “to negotiate on a wide range of topics” during the upcoming rule-making session in order to both simplify and strengthen accreditation. Priorities will include reducing the regulatory burden for accreditors, streamlining the recognition process, putting greater emphasis on student outcomes and stamping out “anticompetitive behaviors.”
Kent ultimately invited accreditors to join in reform efforts or prepare to be left behind.
“We hope many of you will begin making these changes, understanding that the winds of reform are shifting and change is on the move,” he said. “We want to work with you all to move forward, together… As someone once told me, it’s better to be at the table than on the menu—and trust me, we’d much rather have you grabbing a seat than getting served.”
While Kent blasted the status quo, he also applauded some accreditors for recent changes.
The under secretary credited new leadership at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for “implementing major policy updates that streamline processes without adding new compliance burden” and approving a 90-hour bachelor’s degree.
Kent also nodded to actions at the Higher Learning Commission in endorsing a new framework for short-term credential programs, recent ROI-focused work by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and the WASC Senior College and University Commission for dropping what he referred to as “divisive DEI standards from accreditation criteria” last fall.
He also told accreditors that his door “is always open” and encouraged them to share the changes they are undertaking as the Education Department begins its overhaul efforts.
Accreditors Respond
Kent’s comments lingered at the CHEA conference long after he left the room. Speakers both agreed and disagreed with him in subsequent panels as they grappled with his statements.
Heather Perfetti, president of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and chair of the Council of Recognized Accreditation Commissions, noted there was room for common ground with ED. She said accreditors “agree that we all should operate with integrity, accountability” and transparency—themes that Kent emphasized in his speech. She also credited Kent for highlighting various initiatives, which she said showed he is listening and learning.
“His door is open and he wants to hear from us,” Perfetti said.
Some stressed the need for accreditors to remain independent amid fierce political winds.
“Accreditation should not become a policeman in imposing a particular ideology—any ideology, doesn’t matter what ideology it is,” argued Sonny Ramaswamy, who served as president of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities from 2018 through early 2025.
Others expressed a desire for a more civil partnership with ED amid Kent’s fiery rhetoric.
“If we’re going to be partners with the Department of Education, if they want to have meaningful, thoughtful dialogue with us, could we ask that they stop calling us names, calling us a cartel or a monopoly?” said Leah Matthews, executive director and CEO of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
