Trump administration may withdraw federal recognition of ABA law school accreditor

The Education Department’s undersecretary, Nicholas Kent, is slated to rule by late December on whether the American Bar Association’s accrediting arm retains its federal recognition, a status it has maintained since 1952. Losing that status would not instantly end the ABA’s role, but it could accelerate state supreme courts’ moves toward alternative accreditation models, exemplified by a proposed two-year, tuition-free law program at the University of Austin that would operate without ABA approval.

Experts note that most law students would remain eligible for federal aid because many schools are housed within universities that hold separate institutional accreditation. Critics argue that the ABA’s current standards drive up costs and limit innovative teaching models, while supporters point to potential benefits for rural attorney shortages. Several states, including Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama and Washington, have already begun loosening reliance on ABA accreditation, and further state-level reforms could follow if the federal recognition is withdrawn.