I am writing to express my strong opposition to the changes in federal student loan policies set to take effect in July 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill. These changes, which redefine 'professional degrees', will have devastating consequences for our healthcare system and other critical public service sectors.
The new policy excludes numerous essential professions from the 'professional degree' classification, including nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, audiology, architecture, accounting, education, and social work. This reclassification will drastically reduce the amount students in these fields can borrow annually, from $50,000 to a mere $20,500.
At a time when our nation is grappling with severe workforce shortages in healthcare and education, this policy change is not just misguided—it's dangerous. We are already struggling to meet the demand for qualified professionals in these fields. By making it financially harder for students to pursue these careers, we risk exacerbating these shortages and compromising the quality of our healthcare and education systems.
The elimination of Grad PLUS loans and restrictions on Parent PLUS loans further compound this issue. These changes disproportionately affect lower-paid but essential public service careers, favoring higher-earning fields at the expense of professions critical to our communities' well-being.
I urge you to take immediate action to prevent these changes from being implemented. We need policies that support and encourage students to enter these vital professions, not create additional barriers. Please work to reverse these harmful changes and instead develop policies that recognize the value of all professional degrees, particularly those in healthcare, education, and other public service fields.
Our communities depend on these professionals. We cannot afford to undermine their education and training. Act now to protect our future workforce and ensure we can meet the critical needs of our society.
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