The U.S. Department of Education on Friday moved to revoke the American Bar Association’s federally recognized status as the official accreditor of U.S. law schools, citing concerns over the independence of its legal education council.
Staff at the Education Department concluded in a report that the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is not sufficiently separate from the broader ABA organization, violating accreditation regulations. The department also faulted the ABA for delays in revising diversity standards imposed on law schools.
The action follows a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump directing then-Education Secretary Linda McMahon to assess the ABA’s accreditor role. A White House spokesperson at the time described the ABA as a “snooty” organization of “leftist lawyers,” and the administration has since targeted the group’s policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in legal education.
The ABA’s policymaking body voted earlier this month against removing its DEI rule, despite the Education Department’s criticism. The ABA’s accreditation council has scheduled a meeting to address the department’s findings and is expected to engage with a bipartisan accreditation advisory committee in September before a final decision is made. The process could take several months.
Revoking the ABA’s status could disrupt federal student loan access for some law schools and complicate bar exam eligibility across states, where ABA accreditation is often a prerequisite. The ABA has filed lawsuits against the administration over canceled grant funding and executive orders targeting law firms, while the Department of Justice has restricted its attorneys from participating in ABA events and limited the group’s role in judicial nominee vetting.
Melissa Hart, chairperson of the ABA’s accreditation council, stated the group will address the department’s concerns and expressed confidence in resolving the issues. The Education Department’s move marks the latest in a series of clashes between the administration and the ABA over legal education standards and institutional independence.
