Overview

• President Trump signed executive orders targeting college accreditation and foreign gift transparency, intensifying federal oversight of higher education.
• The accreditation overhaul aims to prioritize student outcomes and reduce perceived ideological influence, while easing pathways for new accrediting bodies.
• A separate order mandates stricter disclosure requirements for foreign gifts exceeding $250,000, citing concerns over foreign influence in academia.
• Harvard University has filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s $2.2 billion funding freeze, calling it unlawful government overreach.
• More than 200 institutions have signed a collective statement opposing what they describe as unprecedented political interference in academia.