Plan To Strip Nursing of 'Professional Degree' Status Blocked by Judge
Summary
A federal judge stopped the Education Department from changing the definition of a "professional degree" in a way that would limit student loans for nursing and some other fields. The judge said the Education Department did not have permission from Congress to make this change and worried it could hurt students and communities that need more healthcare workers.Key Facts
- The Trump administration planned to lower federal student loan limits for some graduate nursing programs.
- The Education Department wanted to change the "professional degree" definition to include stricter rules, like working without supervision.
- U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell blocked this change, saying the department lacked authority from Congress.
- The judge expressed concern about the impact on underserved communities needing healthcare professionals.
- The new student loan rules would cap borrowing at $100,000 for graduate programs and $200,000 for professional degrees.
- The ruling stops the updated definition from taking effect but does not stop the loan limits themselves.
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners supports the ruling and says it helps future healthcare workers.
- The issue comes from changes in student loan limits included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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