Media Briefing: Public Health Leaders Respond to the Administration’s Rule Threatening the Public Health Workforce

Media Briefing: Public Health Leaders Respond to the Administration's Rule Threatening the Public Health Workforce

January 29, 2026

(Washington, DC)- By excluding public health degrees from the "professional degree" category, the Department of Education is limiting access to federal financial aid and higher loan limits for public health students increases financial barriers for students from historically excluded communities, and weakening the pipeline of trained professionals needed to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, climate disasters, maternal mortality, mental health crises, and chronic disease.

"Public health is under direct attack. At a moment of historic workforce reductions, growing health threats, and funding cuts, the U.S. Department of Education is proactively limiting access to federal financial aid and higher loan limits for public health students," said Dr. Laura Magaña, President and CEO, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). "This exclusion would reduce enrollment in public health graduate programs and weaken the workforce needed to fill critical roles that protect the nation's health. This is a shortsighted proposal with serious consequences-not only for students, but also for the health, safety, and resilience of communities across the country. We will be submitting comments to the Department, urging them to amend the rule to include public health degrees."

ASPPH, which represents more than 150 accredited schools and programs of public health, is hosting a media availability to respond to this damaging rule and to call on Congress to use its oversight authority to reverse the Department of Education's decision. Hear directly from public health leaders and a student about what this destructive degree designation means.

WHO

• Dr. Laura Magaña, President & CEO, ASPPH

• Dean Hilary Godwin, PhD, University of Washington School of Public Health; Board Chair, ASPPH

• Dean Boris D. Lushniak, MD, MPH, University of Maryland, School of Public Health

• Beeta Rasouli Director of Advocacy and Federal Affairs, ASPPH

• Shawnie Allen, Student, University of South Florida College of Public Health

WHEN

• Friday, January 30, 2026, 11:00 - 11:30 AM ET

WHERE

• To register for event, media should contact [email protected].

Learn more about ASPPH's advocacy on this critical issue.

OTHER STATEMENTS:

ASPPH Statement on the FY 2026 House Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations Bill

September 10, 2025

We thank the House Appropriations Committee for its strong support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-ED) appropriations bill, including the overall budget total for NIH, dedicated funding for the Fogarty International Center (FIC), and important language supporting facilities and administrative (F&A) costs. Sustained investments in NIH are vital to advancing public health, biomedical research, training the next generation of scientists, and improving health outcomes across the nation and the world.

ASPPH Statement on the Removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez

August 28, 2025

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) expresses its profound concern regarding the abrupt firing of Dr. Susan Monarez as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 27, 2025. Dr. Monarez, a Senate-confirmed leader with a strong record of scientific integrity, served in the role for less than a month before her dismissal amid mounting pressure over vaccine policy changes.