President Donald Trump signs a stack of executive orders on stage during his inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Wednesday aimed at overhauling the way colleges and universities in the United States are accredited, escalating his administration’s ongoing battle with higher education institutions.
The order gives the Secretary of Education the authority to hold accrediting agencies accountable through denial, suspension, or termination if they are found to be underperforming or violating civil rights laws. A White House official said the order intends to root out discrimination in higher education, calling on both the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General to investigate “unlawful discrimination” in institutions, including medical and law schools.
“This is about restoring merit and accountability,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon, echoing the administration’s consistent rhetoric against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. McMahon emphasized that colleges should function as “meritocracies,” not ideological institutions.
The move is part of a broader effort led by Trump’s Domestic Policy Council and figures like deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to reshape federal education oversight. The initiative comes just a week after the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University, signaling a more aggressive stance toward elite academic institutions.
In addition to the accreditation overhaul, Trump signed multiple other education-related orders. One directive mandates that institutions provide training in artificial intelligence, a move the administration says is crucial as AI becomes an increasingly dominant force in the economy.
“That’s a big deal,” Trump said at the signing ceremony. “We have literally trillions of dollars being invested in AI, and our students need to be prepared.”
Another order seeks to clamp down on the influence of foreign money in American universities. It directs federal agencies to enforce existing disclosure laws regarding large gifts from foreign entities—laws that, according to the White House, have been ignored or poorly enforced.
Trump also signed an order launching a new White House initiative focused on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). While the administration has had a strained relationship with HBCUs in the past, this latest action appears aimed at strengthening ties ahead of the 2024 election.
The set of executive orders marks a significant shift in the federal government’s role in higher education, setting the stage for legal and political battles over academic freedom, discrimination enforcement, and federal oversight of elite universities.
