By Suzanne Blake0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.A group of major nursing organizations has launched a new legal challenge against the Trump administration, arguing that its recent federal policy change could make it harder for nurses to afford advanced degrees and worsen shortages in the healthcare workforce.
“The Department of Education ignored the voices of nurses and nurse allies who spoke out against this rule throughout their rulemaking process. Increasing barriers to post-baccalaureate nursing education doesn't just limit opportunities and access to education, it limits patients' access to timely care from trusted, highly trained practitioners,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, in a statement.
“We are exercising our due process rights to ensure this is corrected.”
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Why It Matters
For millions of Americans, the outcome of the legal battle could shape both education costs and access to care.
Advanced nursing roles are seen as critical to the healthcare system, and graduate programs can take several years and require significant financing. Due to this, any restrictions on funding could impact how many nurses enter the field.
...What To Know
On May 29, more than 10 national nursing organizations filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education over its decision to exclude advanced nursing programs from the federal definition of a “professional degree.”
The case targets a final rule tied to federal student loan policy and borrowing limits.
The list of groups involved includes:
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
- American College of Nurse Midwives
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
“Trump’s student loan provisions make it more expensive to obtain a nursing degree.” Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “If we allow this administration to make a nursing degree more difficult to afford, then we will end up with fewer nurses. All of this at a time when we are already facing a nursing shortage.”
What the Policy Change Does
The Department of Education implemented new federal student loan rules taking effect in July to distinguish between “professional degree” programs like medicine or law and other graduate programs (including nursing under the new rule).
That distinction matters because it determines how much students can borrow.
Under the new rule:
- Nursing programs are excluded from the “professional degree” category.
- Graduate nursing students face lower federal loan borrowing caps.
- However, higher borrowing limits remain available for fields such as medicine, dentistry and law.
For many nursing students, particularly those pursuing advanced practice roles, this could mean less access to federal funding.
“What's at stake is the nursing pipeline. Healthcare systems are already facing staffing shortages and making it more difficult to finance advanced nursing degrees could further reduce the number of qualified nurses entering the profession,” Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.
“I believe the administration may reconsider its position, given the critical role nurses played during the pandemic. However, its argument will likely be that limiting federal loans could help reduce the rising cost of higher education over time.”
Why Nursing Groups Are Suing
The organizations are alleging the Department of Education’s decision is unlawful and harmful to both students and the broader healthcare system.
In the lawsuit, the organizations say Department rule incorrectly excludes nursing programs that meet the legal definition of a professional degree, creating financial barriers for the students seeking these advanced degrees.
That could in turn limit the future supply of highly trained nurses at a time of growing demand.
“The AANA is deeply concerned by the Department of Education’s decision to limit federal student loan access for advanced practice nursing degrees,” said Jeff Molter, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, in a statement. “This policy will constrict the anesthesia workforce pipeline at a time when patient demand is growing nationwide, ultimately reducing access to essential procedures like surgery, childbirth, and cancer screenings — especially in rural and underserved communities where Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are often the primary anesthesia providers
What Has the Department of Education Said?
The Department of Education has previously pushed back on criticism, arguing that the “professional degree” classification is an administrative distinction, not a judgment about the importance of nursing.
The department also said most nursing students may not be affected because many already borrow below the new limits and the loan caps could help reduce student debt and control program costs.
“Myth: Nurses will have a harder time securing federal student loans for their programs and this would contribute to the nationwide nursing shortage,” the Department of Education wrote in a press release. “Fact: Department of Education data indicates that 95% of nursing students borrow below the annual loan limit and therefore are not affected by the new caps.”
What Happens Next
The plaintiffs are seeking to block the rule before it takes effect on July 1, when the new borrowing limits are scheduled to begin.
A federal court will now determine whether the Department of Education acted within its authority or improperly excluded nursing programs from the definition.
“The largest voting bloc, the Baby Boomers, should be distraught over this,” Powers said. “If we are already short on nurses, imagine what could happen when nearly 30 million Baby Boomers are demanding nursing care. Gen X and Millennials should also be concerned, because absent a supply of nurses, they will be left to care for their aging parents.”
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