What do you get when you mix campus politics, federal funding, and a president on a mission?
A bold shake-up of America’s higher ed system.
President Trump has just signed an executive order he’s been teasing since the campaign trail.
It’s his so-called “secret weapon,” aimed squarely at how colleges get accredited.
Why does that matter? Because without accreditation, schools can’t get federal aid, and students are left out in the cold.
Trump claims that university accreditors have “abused their authority.”
He argues they prioritize left-leaning ideologies—such as diversity and equity programs—over actual academic performance.
“American students and taxpayers deserve better,” the order declares.
What’s The Solution?
Let schools shop around for accreditors and make it easier for new institutions to get approved.
Critics say this could water down standards.
Supporters say it’s about time someone reined in the “cartel” of accreditors they believe stifles intellectual diversity.
And this move isn’t happening in a vacuum.
Trump has already slashed funding to top schools like Columbia and Harvard and accused them of harboring antisemitism.
He’s also targeted international students for their political activism.
Is this about academic freedom—or political control?
Either way, Trump’s message to universities is clear: change is coming, whether you like it or not.
