In a party-line vote on June 25, the House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced two accreditation bills during a markup session that covered seven separate education and labor-related proposals.
The legislation, part of a broader push to reduce federal oversight, has raised alarms across the higher education community for its potential to undermine the peer-review process that underpins institutional quality and access to federal aid.
Federal Metrics and State Power Could Undermine Peer Review
The
Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act of 2025 (H.R. 4054), introduced just days before the markup, would formalize elements of an executive order issued earlier this year by the Trump administration and allow new entities, including state governments and industry groups, to serve as accreditors. It would also require accreditors to prioritize narrow federal outcome metrics such as labor market returns and loan repayment rates when assessing institutional quality.
ACE and other higher education groups have warned that such provisions would dismantle the longstanding balance among federal, state, and accreditor roles—known as the “triad”—and could lead to a system where institutions shop for the least rigorous oversight. In a
letter sent ahead of the markup, ACE and four partner associations urged lawmakers to reject the bill, citing serious concerns about weakening accreditation’s ability to account for institutional mission, student context, and the value of a liberal education.
Targeting DEIA in Accreditation Reviews
Also passed along party lines was the
Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025 (H.R. 2516), which prohibits accreditors from considering what the bill describes as “partisan, political, or ideological” factors—explicitly including diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies—when evaluating colleges and universities.
Supporters of the bill, led by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), framed the legislation as a defense against ideological bias and a safeguard for religious institutions. Opponents warned it could prevent accreditors from holding institutions accountable for equitable outcomes, suppress academic freedom, and erode quality assurance by shielding underperforming or predatory institutions from scrutiny.
Next Steps
While the bills are not expected to advance in the Senate in their current form even if they go on to passed by the full House, the committee vote marks a significant escalation in congressional efforts to reshape accreditation and reduce federal oversight. These proposals echo provisions from last year’s
College Cost Reduction Act, which similarly drew widespread opposition from colleges and universities.
ACE will continue to work with Congress and our member institutions to advocate for thoughtful reforms that preserve academic quality, support student success, and respect institutional mission.