President Donald Trump’s sweeping student-loan repayment overhaul just got dealt a blow in court.
On Wednesday night, US District Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocked a provision that would establish stricter borrowing caps for advanced nursing and other healthcare-related programs.
The Department of Education set a $100,000 lifetime cap for graduate students and a $200,000 cap for professional students. It also limited the definition of “professional” to 11 programs —including law, dentistry, and medicine — while excluding advanced nursing and other healthcare-related programs.
That narrow definition prompted lawsuits by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the PA Education Association, which argued that it was unlawful and excluded professions that would benefit from the higher borrowing caps.
Howell’s ruling pauses the department’s definition of “professional” while the rest of the case is decided, and will still allow higher borrowing caps to take effect on July 1, using preexisting definitions that would include advanced healthcare programs in the caps.
The plaintiffs have shown they’re likely to succeed on their “claim that the Rule’s definition of ‘professional degree’ is contrary to law, that they would suffer irreparable harm should the Rule go into effect, and that the balance of equities and the public interest are in their favor,” Howell wrote.
An Education Department spokesperson said that the department is “reviewing the order and will take appropriate action.”
The American Academy of Physician Associates and the PA Education Association said in a joint statement that this ruling is “only the first step.”
“The uncertainty created by this rule continues to threaten the future healthcare workforce at a time when communities across the country already face growing provider shortages,” they said.
The borrowing caps have faced criticism from lawmakers across the aisle. House Republicans recently advanced a plan in their budget legislation that would make advanced nursing programs eligible for higher borrowing caps.
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