That's correct they are no longer required such recognition. ABET is recognized by CHEA and that is sufficient.
The reason is, DOE concerns itself with student financial aid eligibility. ABET accredits programs at R/A schools ONLY. Every student in an ABET program is, therefore, eligible for federal financial aid. There are no ABET "free standing" engineering schools. www.abet.org The American Bar Association, in contrast, approves "free standing" law schools that are not regionally accredited. And the Department of Education actually says that ABA approval establishes Title IV eligibility ONLY for "freestanding" law schools. University affilitated law schools rely upon their regional accreditation.