House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has introduced the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act, which aims to prevent accrediting bodies from requiring colleges and universities to implement racial or sex-based quotas. The bill also directs accreditors to prioritize a school’s commitment to academic freedom.
The legislation is designed to codify an executive order issued by former President Trump on higher education accreditation. Senator Jim Banks (R-ID) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate, with Representatives Addison McDowell (R-NC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) joining as cosponsors.
“Accreditors should not have the tools to coerce colleges into using racial or sex-based quotas as a condition of accreditation. Academic quality should be based on merit and not woke accreditation elites who have a Far Left ideology at odds with freedom of thought,” said Chairwoman Stefanik.
“In the golden age of common sense, the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act presents a prime opportunity to correct the path of our higher education institutions, which have lost their way in recent years,” said Congressman McDowell. “When we commit our universities to excellence over DEI, our country is better for it. I’m proud to stand with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Senator Jim Banks in our country’s efforts to rid our universities of wokeness.”
The bill includes several provisions: it requires accreditors to respect free speech and First Amendment protections; prohibits standards based on race, gender, or national origin; strengthens institutional autonomy by allowing colleges to set lawful policies without risking accreditation; protects religious institutions from conflicting mandates; and allows legal action against accreditors that violate these protections.
Elise Stefanik has represented New York’s 21st District in Congress since 2015 after replacing Bill Owens. She was born in Albany, New York in 1984 and lives in Schuylerville. Stefanik graduated from Harvard University with an AB degree. More information about her legislative work can be found at https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/9/stefanik-reintroduces-fairness-in-higher-education-accreditation-act-to-end-sex-based-quotas.
