A significant shift in medical education standards has caught the attention of the White House, marking a pivotal change in institutional priorities.
Fox News reported that last week, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a key nonprofit overseeing medical residencies and fellowships, announced the termination of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements and the closure of its DEI department, a decision aligned with federal directives and executive orders from President Donald Trump, which has been met with approval from White House officials.
The White House has expressed support for this development in medical training accreditation.
This change reflects broader governmental guidance affecting various institutions.
The decision impacts not only accrediting bodies but also facilities receiving specific federal funding.
ACGME's adjustment follows recent instructions from the federal level, including a proposed regulation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
These guidelines prohibit the imposition of certain ideological frameworks in educational standards.
They also extend to hospitals and programs tied to Medicare payments for graduate medical training.
In response, ACGME has revised its policies by removing specific accreditation criteria related to DEI.
The organization has also updated its internal procedures to align with the new landscape.
White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston commented on the broader implications of this shift in focus:
President Trump is protecting civil rights and restoring merit-based opportunity. Organizations like the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are making the right decision by choosing to no longer waste resources on divisive DEI departments. Individual dignity, hard work and excellence are the foundation of American greatness, and these demeaning ‘equity’ mandates have no place in our institutions.
As ACGME commits to guiding stakeholders through this transition and maintaining high standards in medical education, the White House continues to view this as a step toward emphasizing individual merit, while the organization ensures compliance with the current federal environment, and efforts to gather further input from entities like the Department of Education are underway through media outreach by Fox News Digital.
