Bonamici, Merkley, Mannion, Underwood, Alsobrooks Launch Effort to Overturn Student Loan Rule

WASHINGTON, DC [5/7/26] - Today Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. John Mannion (D-NY), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) announced they will introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Department of Education's finalized rule that caps federal student loans and overhauls the student loan system.

The final rule unnecessarily limits the definition of a professional degree for the purpose of establishing federal loan caps, which will force future nurses, social workers, teachers, firefighters, physical and occupational therapists, and many others to turn to often predatory, high-interest private lenders to complete their degrees. It also officially eliminates the Grad PLUS program and creates new, less affordable loan repayment options for all borrowers. The CRA will be introduced as soon as the rule is officially received by Congress.

"I've spoken with nurses, teachers, firefighters, and many others who are concerned about how the Trump administration is making it even harder and more expensive for students to enter these critical public service jobs," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "It is also absurd to take away more affordable student loan repayment plans at a time when families are struggling to cover costs as prices skyrocket for gas and other basic needs as a direct result of Trump's reckless economic policy. These changes to the federal loan system are unacceptable and I will do everything I can to oppose them."

"Trump and Congressional Republicans' 'Big, Ugly Betrayal' law is a direct attack on public service jobs across the nation, making it more difficult for hardworking Americans to access higher education," said Senator Jeff Merkley. "By failing to classify nurses, teachers, firefighters, social workers, accountants, architects, and others as pursuing 'professional' degrees for student loans, the Trump Administration is undermining the future of critical professions. At the same time, this is driving up the cost of student loans for all professions by establishing costlier student loan repayment plans. We're fighting like hell to roll back dangerous changes to federal student loans, so folks can continue to access the affordable loans they need to pursue their dreams."

"The Trump Administration is making it harder for people to become nurses, social workers, counselors, and other essential professionals at the exact moment our communities need them most," said Representative John W. Mannion. "This rule is arbitrary, short-sighted, and harmful to low- and middle-income students who do not have the luxury of paying out of pocket for an advanced degree, which is why I'm working with my colleagues on this legislation to repeal this shortsighted rule. We should be expanding access to educational opportunity, not creating new barriers to the workforce."

"While working families struggle to buy groceries and put gas in their cars, the Trump Administration is sending a clear message to aspiring nurses, health care providers, social workers, teachers, and firefighters: If you can't afford a high interest loan, then you can't serve your community," said Rep. Lauren Underwood. "This rule will undermine public health, and it's a slap in the face to the millions of professionals who are doing critically important work to support the health and well-being of our families. It should be thrown out, and I'm proud to join my colleagues on this Congressional Review Act resolution to get it overturned."

"The Trump Administration is once again actively targeting the public servants who make up the bedrock of our communities - nurses, teachers, and social workers - by taking away their opportunities to access affordable student loans and forcing them into the clutches of private lenders," said Senator Alsobrooks. "This new rule creates a deep inequity that will exacerbate nursing and educator shortages and is an insult to the hard working professionals that sacrifice every day to serve others."

The final rule establishes an arbitrary list of 11 fields that are eligible for an aggregate borrowing limit of $200,000. Borrowers in programs excluded from the definition of "professional" - including nurses, social workers, teachers, firefighters, physical and occupational therapists, and more - will have a $20,500 annual borrowing limit and a $100,000 aggregate borrowing limit. This will worsen healthcare workforce shortages and disincentivize students from entering high-need fields where they might not be able to pay back the high costs of private loans.

Millions of borrowers with outstanding student loans will also see their required monthly payment amounts increase by hundreds of dollars, dramatically exacerbating the affordability crisis. Changes to student loan repayment include significantly higher monthly loan payments and a mandated $50 minimum monthly payment under the Tiered Standard Repayment Plan, rather than allowing for lower amounts when the lender and borrower agree. Together, these changes will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income students and families.

The text of the CRA can be read here. It is supported by: AASA, The School Superintendents Association; American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN); American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA); American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP); American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM); American Nurses Association (ANA); National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNP); National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); National Association of Social Workers (NASW); National Education Association (NEA); the National League for Nursing (NLN); the PA Education Association; National Rural Health Association; and American Academy of Physician Associates.

"It's ironic that we find ourselves here at the start of National Nurses Week, a time when we are meant to celebrate and honor the very people who keep our health system running. And yet, the Department of Education has chosen to make it harder for nurses to advance their education and their careers," said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. "I want to thank Rep. Bonamici, Rep. Mannion, and Rep. Underwood for introducing a Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the Department of Education's final rule. As nurses, we are used to using every tool we have to treat our patients, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to repeal this rule. Otherwise, the effects of this rule will be felt in communities across the country, especially in rural areas where nurse practitioners, midwives, and nurse anesthetists are often the only providers of core healthcare services."

"AACN applauds Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. John Mannion, Rep. Lauren Underwood, and Congressional leaders for pushing back on the Department of Education's final rule and taking decisive action to champion our nation's nursing professionals," saidDr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. "This joint resolution effectively suspends restrictive student loan caps for master's and doctoral nursing students and keeps all options on the table to ensure federal support for meeting the nation's nursing workforce needs."

"The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is thrilled to endorse Congresswoman Bonamici's Congressional Review Act in response to the Department of Education's RISE Committee Final Rule. After receiving over 80,000 comments to their proposed rule, including NASW comments with a petition signed by nearly 30,000 social workers, the Trump Administration did not make any substantive changes to the designation of a professional degree. By instituting lower federal student loan limits for social work students, the Trump Administration cut off the access that makes it possible to educate and prepare social workers who are the largest providers of mental health services in the nation. Social work is a profession. It requires a graduate degree, supervised clinical hours, and state licensure. NASW, along with our Congressional champions, will continue to fight for the recognition social workers deserve and ensure that the cost of an education doesn't prevent a dedicated professional from saving lives," said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO, NASW.

Additional statements of support can be found here.

In the House, the CRA is cosponsored by Representatives Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Angie Craig (D-MN), Madeline Dean (D-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon, Mark Takano (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Becca Balint (D-VT).

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