Trump Unveils Major Education Reforms, Revamps College Accreditation Standards

President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders on Wednesday aimed at enhancing education in the United States. Key areas of focus include accreditation in higher education, school discipline, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings.

One significant directive establishes a White House task force dedicated to advancing AI in education. This initiative will support the “Presidential AI Challenge” and foster public-private partnerships to enhance AI learning resources in K-12 schools. The order emphasizes prioritizing AI use in discretionary grant programs for teacher training and instructs the Director of the National Science Foundation to enhance research on AI applications in educational contexts.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is tasked with collaborating with the National Science Foundation’s director to identify high-quality AI skills coursework nationwide, in an effort to boost workforce capabilities across various sectors.

Another executive order calls for a modernization of American workforce programs, preparing citizens for high-paying skilled trade jobs. Cabinet members are directed to review existing federal workforce programs and shift focus toward training in industrial manufacturing, highlighting the administration’s commitment to economic growth through skilled labor.

Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick presented these measures as aligned with the administration’s recent tariff policies, particularly emphasizing tariffs on Chinese goods to protect American manufacturing interests. “All those factories that you’re bringing in because of your trade policy, we’re going to train people to work in them,” Lutnick stated.

Following the signing, Trump addressed queries regarding the tariffs, confirming that the high rates on China were intentional to limit trade with the country. “It basically means China is not doing any business with us,” he remarked, emphasizing the intended impact on product pricing and market dynamics.

Additional executive orders signed on the same day include mandates for objective school discipline policies, requirements for full disclosure of foreign funding by higher education institutions, and the establishment of a White House initiative on HBCUs, along with a dedicated advisory board within the Education Department.