In Letter to Education Secretary McMahon, Courtney & Adams Blast Changes to Politicize Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, led a letter with 48 of their colleagues to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing their strong disapproval to the Department of Education's proposal to restrict eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) beyond what the law states. The proposal follows a March 7^th Executive Order signed by President Trump which directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury to make changes to PSLF eligibility based on whether a public servants' employing organization aligns ideologically with the Trump Administration.

"PSLF has been bipartisan from the start, when Congress created the program and President Bush signed it into law in 2007. Now, President Trump and Secretary of Education McMahon are attempting to redefine which public service jobs are eligible for PSLF based on the Administration's own politics. No thanks," Courtney said. "My office has heard from many people in public service professions who worked hard, followed the rules, but were still denied PSLF relief they were promised due to a lack of guidance and clarity from the Department of Education. Politicizing PSLF eligibility will throw public servants into even greater uncertainty and harm organizations that are filling critical service gaps in our communities. It also undermines Congressional intent and our promise to nurses, teachers, firefighters, and more. I will continue fighting for legislation in Congress to make PSLF more transparent, fairer, and easier for America's public service workers to qualify for this patriotic program."

"The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has always been a bipartisan way to make higher education more affordable while giving back to our communities and our country. PSLF has helped more than one million Americans achieve the American Dream, but the Trump Administration is trying to strip the program away from anyone who doesn't align with the MAGA agenda," said Congresswoman Adams. "Access to education should never depend on your political party. We made a promise to our public servants-nurses, firefighters, EMTs, teachers, law enforcement officers-and I'm committed to ensuring our country keeps its promise."

In April, Congressman Courtney and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Ranking Member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee, reintroduced the Strengthening Efforts for Relief and Vital Incentives for Community Service and Engagement Act, or the SERVICE Act. Their bill protects borrowers and strengthens the program by shortening the time to forgiveness from 120 payments (10 years) to 96 payments (eight years); providing borrowers with more flexibility to make qualifying payments; expanding deferment options in lieu of payments to include military service, cancer treatments, and other circumstances to count as qualifying months of payments; and improving borrowers' rights and transparency.

To read the full letter click here.

###