New Dept. of Ed Rule Limits Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Briefly

Proposed revisions to a student loan forgiveness program may restrict eligibility for thousands of borrowers tied to their employer's alignment with government policies. The Department of Education argues this prevents taxpayer funds from supporting employers engaged in legally questionable practices, including gender-affirming care and DEI programs. Critics, including student advocates, see this as government overreach and a threat to free speech. The proposed rule follows a White House executive order and was reviewed through negotiated rule making, being similar to initial drafts and opinions from advisory committees.
This feels like government overreach-organizations and groups that are not working in line with the administration's agenda are going to be targeted by this regulatory change, said Sabrina Calazans, executive director of the Student Debt Crisis Center. We're deeply concerned this is essentially going against free speech.
The rule, which was published Monday on the Federal Register, fulfills a White House executive order signed by the president in March. The department reviewed the planned changes with an advisory committee through a complex process known as negotiated rule making earlier this summer.
Department officials, however, describe the revised regulations as a way to prevent taxpayer dollars from being improperly provided to borrowers whose employers are engaging in what they consider illegal practices, according to a news release about the rule.
Under the department's proposal, borrowers pursuing public service careers in local or state government as well as private nonprofit organizations could lose eligibility for loan forgiveness if their employer partakes in what the department are calling activities with a substantial illegal purpose.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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