Student Defense Statement on the Trump Administration’s New Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility Rules
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2025
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Student Defense Statement on the Trump Administration’s New Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility Rules
Student Defense President Aaron Ament issued a statement today on the U.S. Department of Education’s new rules that restrict who is eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program:
“The Trump Administration is playing political football with the financial well-being of people who have dedicated their lives to public service. Instead of supporting first responders, healthcare workers, and teachers working to make our country a better place, the Trump Administration is punishing public servants for their employers’ perceived political views. As we said in March when the Trump Administration published the Executive Order on PSLF, we will file a lawsuit in the next few days and challenge this illegal overreach.”
Background Information
Student Defense has a track record of success advocating for public servants who qualify for PSLF. It represented the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in Weingarten v. DeVos, which accused ED of mismanaging the PSLF program. That case led to a landmark settlement, ensuring millions of public employees received the loan forgiveness they were promised. Student Defense was also victorious in Lawson-Ross v. Great Lakes, where a unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed a lower court ruling and held that borrowers can sue student loan servicing companies under state consumer protection laws over misrepresentations about the PSLF program.
