A federal judge temporarily suspended a key provision of an Education Department rule on Thursday, potentially opening the door for students pursuing nursing and other medical graduate degrees to qualify for more federal student loans, less than a week before the Trump administration’s sweeping borrowing limits were due to take effect July 1.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims that the government’s definition of “‘professional degree’ is contrary to law” and supported their assertion that “they would suffer irreparable harm should the Rule go into effect.”
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Physician Assistant Education Association filed lawsuits against Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the department, respectively. Howell ruled for both cases, acknowledging the plaintiffs’ “understandable angst” over the new federal student loan caps.