Trump administration strips American Bar Association of law school accreditation power

The Trump administration's Department of Education has recommended stripping the American Bar Association of its power to accredit U.S. law schools, a role it has held since 1952. Officials cite a lack of organizational independence and slow progress in removing diversity mandates. The move threatens federal student loan access and bar exam eligibility for students, while the ABA defends its standards and judicial independence.

ABA law school accreditation removal

• ▪The Department of Education's recommendation will proceed to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and then to Undersecretary of Education Nicholas Kent for review.
• ▪The U.S. Department of Education on August 21, 2026, recommended stripping the American Bar Association of its status as the federally recognized accreditor of U.S. law schools.
• ▪The Department of Education's recommendation to strip the American Bar Association's accreditation power will be considered by a bipartisan advisory committee in September 2026.

Trump administration anti-DEI campaign

• ▪The Department of Education's report faulted the American Bar Association for being too slow to revise its rule requiring law schools to meet diversity standards.
• ▪President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April 2025 directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to assess whether to suspend or terminate the American Bar Association's accreditor status.
• ▪The American Bar Association's policymaking body voted in August 2026 against removing its diversity, equity, and inclusion rule for law schools.

Education Department independence findings

• ▪The Department of Education's report states that the American Bar Association does not maintain enough independence from the legal profession to be a trustworthy accreditor.
• ▪The Department of Education concluded in a 500-page report that the American Bar Association's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is not separate and independent from its parent organization.

ABA political activism allegations

• ▪Former Trump adviser May Mailman accused the American Bar Association of being a left-wing advocacy group that files 80% of its amicus briefs for liberal arguments.
• ▪American Bar Association President William R. Bay defended the organization in 2025, stating its statements on judicial independence support the rule of law rather than opposing any administration.
• ▪Assistant Secretary of Education David Barker stated that accreditation operates like a cartel and allows accreditors to inject political preferences and ideologies when there is no competition.

Law school federal funding impact

• ▪Revoking the American Bar Association's accreditor status would disrupt federal student loan access for law schools that are not affiliated with a larger university.
• ▪Losing American Bar Association accreditation could prevent law school graduates from qualifying to take state bar exams and becoming licensed attorneys.

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