A group of federal judges has blocked the Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, ruling in favor of advocates who argued the changes could be used as a tool for political retaliation.
According to the Associated Press, Myong Joun of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts found that the U.S. Department of Education exceeded its legal authority and risked violating First Amendment protections. The ruling follows multiple lawsuits filed by more than 20 states, as well as several nonprofit organizations and cities, challenging the proposed changes.
Courts Raise Concerns Over New Rules
Judge Joun concluded that the department’s revised policy threatened to impose the administration’s political priorities on employers participating in the program.
He also found that the department failed to clearly define what would constitute “illegal activity” under the proposed rules. “The Department offers no explanation for why a Final Rule with such sweeping consequences is necessary to address the possibility that, at most, ten employers each year may be engaging in illegal activity,” Joun wrote in his ruling.
In a separate case, Amir Ali issued a similar ruling in Washington, D.C., further preventing the policy from taking effect.
Education Department Responds
Following the rulings, Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent defended the department’s position.
“The department stands behind this commonsense policy to ensure that taxpayer dollars are never used to subsidize illegal activities,” Kent said in a statement.
The rulings temporarily preserve the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness program while the legal challenges continue.