Judge blocks Trump plan that would limit graduate student loans in nursing and other fields

A federal judge has blocked part of a Trump administration plan that would have limited access to loans for students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy, public health and some other fields.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners, one of the groups that sued, described the ruling in a Facebook Thursday as 鈥渁n important step for NP students, the future health care workforce and the patients who depend on them.鈥�

At issue are that were passed as part of the and set to take effect in July.

While graduate students could previously borrow loans up to the cost of their degree, the new rules set limits. Programs that were designated as 鈥済raduate鈥� programs face a loan cap of $100,000, while professional degrees are capped at $200,000.

The Education Department defined the following fields as professional programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology.

Eight groups sued, representing nurse practitioners, therapists, public health workers, speech language pathologists, physician assistants and more. .

The groups alleged that students would be forced to forgo their education or accept burdensome private loans.

In pausing the Education Department鈥檚 definition of a 鈥減rofessional degree鈥� late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell found issue with the agency making updates that added 鈥渕ore stringent requirements” to the definition. Those new requirements include that professional degree holders 鈥漨ust work free from another professional鈥檚 supervision.鈥�

Howell said Congress didn’t give the Education Department this authority and raised concerns that a loss of opportunities for prospective students would be “detrimental to the public, particularly in underserved communities that may face a shortage of healthcare and other critical professional services.鈥�

The ruling doesn’t stop the loan caps, just the updated definition of a profession degree.

The Education Department said in a written statement that it is 鈥渞eviewing the order and will take appropriate action.鈥� It previously defended the caps on , saying they were already incentivizing colleges and universities to lower tuition.

A lawsuit filed by a that also challenges the caps is still pending.

___

The Associated Press鈥� education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP鈥檚 for working with philanthropies, a of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.