Graduate students pursuing degrees in nursing, physical therapy, and several other fields will temporarily be eligible for higher federal student loan amounts, following a federal judge’s decision to block part of a rule implemented by the Trump administration. The U.S. Education Department announced a revised rule on Monday to comply with the judge’s order, though officials indicated they would continue to fight in court to reinstate the original policy.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington issued last week’s court ruling, specifically blocking parts of the Education Department’s definition of "professional programs" that were added during a federal rulemaking process. Judge Howell characterized the department’s interpretation as "misguided" and a departure from a longstanding definition established by Congress.
