October 31, 2025

Nicholas Kent is the man behind the scenes at the US Education Department, quietly planning a big change in how colleges get approved for federal money. Instead of loud battles with top schools like Harvard, Kent is going after the real heart of the system: accreditation. This system, run by independent agencies, decides if colleges meet standards to qualify for government funds. If these watchdog agencies lose their recognition from the Education Department, they could be shut down, and colleges would scramble to find new approval. President Donald Trump has called the accreditation system a “secret weapon” to force changes in colleges. Kent, with years of experience in this area, wants accreditors to enforce tougher rules, including cracking down on protests and diversity programs on campuses. In his own words, Kent said, “We can no longer nibble around the edges. We need a reset of the whole system. You could call it a revolution.” Kent even gave a public speech promising “a dramatic overhaul of the accreditation system as it currently exists within the next year.” From his office near the National Mall in Washington, Kent and Education Secretary Linda McMahon are aiming to shrink the department while boosting pressure on colleges. They have already frozen billions in research funds and targeted international students. The White House asked schools to join a voluntary compact promising better funding if they agree to the government’s priorities, but big schools like MIT and the University of Pennsylvania have said no. Kent knows the accreditation world well. He started with agencies overseeing health education and lobbying for faster accreditation for trade schools. Now, he wants to shake up the “higher education industrial complex” by making accreditors act tougher on policy issues the Trump team cares about. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo has praised the approach, saying the government should “turn the screws on accreditors.” The Trump team called accreditors “gatekeepers” who have used their power badly. Actions against Columbia University and Harvard show the new pressure: Both faced threats to their accreditation over issues like campus antisemitism and other policies. Kent warned, “We’re not afraid to fire accreditors if it comes down to it.” This fight could cause chaos. Taking away recognition from big accreditors that serve hundreds of schools would force many colleges to switch agencies quickly or risk losing funds. Experts see it as a bold warning shot from the government. Some accreditors are reacting fast. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is changing its standards after being targeted by Florida’s Governor DeSantis, while others are easing up on diversity rules under pressure. Their leaders say it’s hard to separate keeping quality from playing politics. Kent also wants more competition in accreditation to break the hold of a few big agencies. This could help new colleges, trade schools, and for-profit institutions get federal money faster. Groups aligned with Trump and DeSantis are already setting up new accrediting agencies promising to fight the “woke accreditation cartels.” Kent summed up the big picture: reform means some will win and others will lose. He hopes this shake-up will finally change the way higher education works in America, even if it means upsetting the old order.

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Tags: Nicholas kent, Education department, Accreditation reform, Trump administration, Higher education, College funding,