Trump targets college accreditation process in new executive order | CNN Politics

Trump's Executive Order on Higher Education

President Trump signed several executive orders impacting higher education, including one targeting the college accreditation process. This order seeks to increase accountability for accreditors and investigate potential discrimination in universities. The executive orders also address AI training in schools, foreign gifts to universities, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Key Actions

• Accreditation Oversight: The order aims to hold higher education accreditors accountable for performance and civil rights violations, impacting access to federal student aid.
• Discrimination Investigation: The Attorney General and Secretary of Education are directed to investigate and terminate unlawful discrimination in higher education institutions.
• AI Training: An order ensures schools incorporate AI training into their curricula.
• Foreign Gifts: Departments and agencies are tasked with enforcing laws on foreign gifts to American universities, requiring better disclosure.
• HBCU Initiative: A White House initiative focused on historically Black colleges and universities is established.

These actions are part of ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reshape higher education, following a funding freeze on Harvard University. The administration emphasizes meritocracy and aims to address concerns regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.