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U.S. Department of Education moves to strip ABA of law school accreditation authority
The U.S. Department of Education has moved to strip the American Bar Association (ABA) of its status as the federally recognized accreditor for U.S. law schools. This action follows an executive order from President Donald Trump directing the assessment of the ABA’s role.
A 500-page report from the Education Department concluded that the ABA’s accreditation wing lacks the required independence from the larger organization. The department also criticized the ABA for being slow to revise rules regarding diversity standards and stated that its accreditation rules are out of compliance with federal regulations.
Assistant Secretary of Education David Barker characterized the current accreditation system as a “cartel” that allows for the injection of political ideologies into the process. The administration has specifically accused the ABA of promoting progressive agendas, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
If the revocation proceeds, it could disrupt federal student loan access for various law schools and potentially prevent graduates from qualifying for bar exams in many states. A bipartisan advisory committee is scheduled to consider the recommendation in September, with a final decision expected in several months. Melissa Hart, chair of the ABA’s Accreditation Council, stated the council is confident it can address the department’s concerns.
Entities
American Bar Association · Andrea R. Lucas · Donald Trump · Equal Employment Opportunity Commission · Linda McMahon · Melissa Hart · U.S. Department of Education
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ABA’s accreditation council is not sufficiently independent from the larger American Bar Association. srnnews.com · abogado.com.ph · justthenews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Revoking the ABA’s status could disrupt federal student loan access for law schools and impact bar exam eligibility. srnnews.com · abogado.com.ph · justthenews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ABA accreditation council is confident it can address the concerns raised by the Department of Education. srnnews.com · abogado.com.ph · justthenews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The ABA has been too slow to revise rules regarding diversity standards for law schools. srnnews.com · abogado.com.ph
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Accreditation operates like a cartel that allows accreditors to inject political preferences and ideologies into their work. justthenews.com