Democratic-led states sue over Trump administration's student loan restrictions
The coalition says the rule could force students in nursing and other health fields toward private loans and deepen workforce shortages.
- On Tuesday, 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Education Department in U.S. District Court in Maryland, challenging new rules that restrict federal loan eligibility for graduate-level health programs.
- The lawsuit targets a provision in the "Big, Beautiful Bill" signed by President Donald Trump last July, which created strict caps of $20,500 annually and $100,000 total for graduate student borrowing.
- States argue the rule is "arbitrary" and unlawfully excludes fields like physician assistant, physical therapy, and graduate-level nursing from professional degree status, potentially worsening healthcare worker shortages.
- The Education Department previously described the caps as a practical measure, asserting that most nursing students borrow less than the annual limit and the policy will incentivize lower program costs.
- This challenge occurs amid broader efforts by Under Secretary Linda McMahon to reduce the department's workforce by nearly 50 percent, while 43 million borrowers currently owe $1.6 trillion in federal student loans as of 2023.
59 Articles
59 Articles
Democratic-led states sue over Trump administration’s student loan restrictions
A group of Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging a new rule the Trump administration issued that could limit access to federal student loans for people pursuing advanced professional degrees in healthcare-related fields. Democratic attorneys general from 23 states and the District of Columbia joined with the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania to file a lawsuit in federal court in Maryland arguing that the U.S. Departme…
Nevada, 23 states sue Trump administration over professional degree loan caps
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is leading a coalition of attorneys general in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over a rule that narrows the definition of a “professional degree” — a change he argues would cut off student loan access for thousands of students pursuing advanced degrees in those fields.
Maryland leads states suing Education Department for ‘unlawful’ student loan cap
Maryland and 25 other Democratic jurisdictions say that new student borrowing limits set by the U.S. Department of Education violate the law, and will deter students from seeking advanced professional degrees. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)Maryland is at the head of a lawsuit with 25 other Democratic jurisdictions that are challenging a new U.S. Department of Education rule that would limit loan access for students pursuing some gra…
25 states and DC sue Education Department over loan limits, citing health system strain
Democratic attorneys general in more than 20 states and Washington, D.C., on Tuesday filed suit against the Education Department over new limits set to go into effect for graduate student loan borrowers. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, states that the new limits will strain the healthcare workforce by discouraging students from…
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