‘No Accountability, No Justice, and No Integrity’

October 5, 2026 - 16:02

A bipartisan federal advisory committee has recommended that the U.S. Department of Education suspend its recognition of the American Psychological Association's accrediting body, citing what lawmakers describe as a longstanding failure to confront antisemitism within the field.

The recommendation, passed by a 7 to 4 vote late last month, targets the APA's Commission on Accreditation, which oversees 1,320 professional education and training programs at the master's, doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral residency levels. The commission plays a central role in setting standards and shaping best practices for psychology trainees across the country.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has characterized the problem as a "persistent and pernicious pattern of antisemitism" that the association has been unable or unwilling to address. The committee's action reflects growing pressure on accrediting bodies to enforce accountability, particularly as public confidence in higher education continues to erode.

If the Education Department follows the recommendation, the APA's accrediting arm could lose federal recognition, a move that would carry significant consequences for psychology programs nationwide. The vote signals that federal oversight bodies are increasingly willing to act when institutions fail to meet basic standards of integrity and justice.