Some Republicans are fighting to end Trump administration's decision to cap loans for nursing students

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Thursday 25 December 2025 10:05 EST


A group of Republicans is fighting to end the Trump administration’s decision to cap loans for graduate nursing students, a move that sparked widespread anger across the profession. The provision was laid out in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and set lifetime borrowing caps on student loans for graduate and professional degrees.

Nursing was left off the list of professional degrees deemed eligible to apply for the highest debt limits by the Department of Education, which was set at $200,000. Those pursuing graduate degrees in nursing are limited to borrowing a maximum of $100,000, which no longer covers the full cost of some advanced programs in the field.

The decision “threatened the very foundation of patient care” by limiting student nurses’ access to funding, nursing organizations warned.

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York is supporting legislation with four other Republicans to add nursing to the Education Department’s list of “professional” degrees, along with occupational therapy, social work, audiology and physician assistant, which were also excluded, Politico reports.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-nursing-professional-degree-loans-b2890445.html

[valleyrogue]

1. Why stop with nursing? Many others, including teachers, are also affected by this policy.

The fact is this is less motivated by sexism than the desire of the Trump administration to force more graduate students into taking private loans. It is another wealth transfer scheme.

The ONLY reason medical and law students aren't affected is because they have powerful lobbying groups (the AMA and ABA, respectively) that would object.

[dsc]

2. I agree this will hurt teaching a great deal

in particular guidance counselors and administration.

[SunSeeker]

3. This is insanity. We have a nurse shortage in the US. Nursing school should be free.

[Seinan Sensei]

4. Yes

ALL school, moreover, should be free

This would be an investment that would pay huge dividends economically and for our future. Guaranteed.