Today a U.S. district judge vacated the Trump Administration’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) regulation which amended the definition of “qualifying employer” to exclude organizations that engage in unlawful activities such that they have a “substantial illegal purpose”, including supporting terrorism, providing gender affirming care, and aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The judge ruled that Congress did not give the Department the ability to revise definition of a public service job. The rule was set to take effect tomorrow. The ruling is here.
Department of Education Temporarily Expands List of Programs Eligible as "Professional Degrees”, Including Many Allied Health Professions
The Department of Education announced a temporarily expanded list of programs that will qualify as professional degrees while ongoing litigation proceeds, making more students eligible for higher loan limits — including core allied health programming, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, speech language pathology, and athletic training.
The Department’s action follows litigation challenging a regulation that was scheduled to take effect on July 1. That regulation would have narrowed the definition of a professional degree to just 11 fields, none of which were allied health professions. The federal District Court temporarily blocked the implementation of this regulation while the case is being litigated. In response, the Department has revised its guidance and temporarily expanded the list of qualifying professional degree programs.
The Department’s press release and full list of qualifying programs can be found here. The Associated Press also provided a helpful recap of the current state of play. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
Although the duration of the Court's stay is uncertain, it will remain in effect until the litigation is resolved or the Court orders otherwise. If the Court ultimately upholds the Department's narrower interpretation of professional degrees, the expanded eligibility could be reversed.
In the meantime, this temporary change is an important step toward ensuring that students in a broader range of health professions have access to the higher federal loan limits available for professional degree programs—up to $200,000 in lifetime eligibility, with a maximum of $50,000 per academic year—rather than the lower limits that apply to other graduate students, which are $100,000 in lifetime eligibility and $20,500 per academic year.
ASAHP AWARDS $53,000 IN 2026 INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION RESEARCH GRANTS
The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) announced that its Interprofessional Collaboration Research Grants, in the total amount of $53,000, have been awarded to two recipients: Dr. Leslie A. Rippon of Seton Hall University for her work in better preparing future healthcare professionals to address the social factors that shape health outcomes and Dr. Andy N. Garman, of Rush University, for his work in equipping future health professionals to address environmental health challenges and promote sustainable healthcare practices.
Department of Education Issues Final Accountability Rule
Today the Department of Education issued its final Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability rule. Under the rule, undergraduate programs will be required to demonstrate that their graduates earn more than the typical high school diploma holder, and graduate programs will be required to demonstrate that their graduates earn more than the typical bachelor’s degree holder.
The final rule is here. A press release from the Department of Education is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
Court Temporarily Blocks Department of Education’s New Definition of Professional Degree
A federal court has temporarily halted implementation of key portions of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) revised professional degree definition under its Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) final rule, preserving current eligibility standards for health professions programs while litigation proceeds.
Congressional Review Act to Repeal RISE Regulations Fails in Senate Vote
In a party line vote this week, the Senate failed to agree on the motion to proceed on Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to repeal the Administration’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations which eliminates the Grad PLUS program and establishes graduate student loan caps. . The CRA is supported by nearly 200 organizations, including ASAHP.
A press release from Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) is here.
Call for Award Applications: ASAHP Interprofessional Excellence Award
ASAHP is now accepting applications for the 2026 Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care.
The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) strongly endorses interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP). Support for IPE and IPCP is based on the idea that collaboration will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery systems to promote team-based, patient/family centered health care. As the leading organization representing health professions schools, ASAHP serves as a collaborative resource and advocate for interprofessional education to students, faculty, professional accrediting bodies, and practitioners through instruction, research, and service.
Through the Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care, ASAHP looks to recognize a member institution and/or industry member for outstanding achievement in IPE and IPCP. In addition to the award, several institutions will also be recognized as “Programs of Merit” by ASAHP.
Applications are due July 20, 2026.
A Conversation with Amber Boyd, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati - Hub Host for ASAHP 2026 Regional Summit
Deadline Extension: 2026 ASAHP IP Innovation Grant Program
House Committee Advances FY 27 Labor-HHS Bill
The House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the "FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Act," and voted 34–28 yesterday to favorably report the bill. The bill sets total funding for the three departments at $201.8 billion, representing a 9 percent decrease from FY 26 enacted level. The Department of Education would receive $70.7 billion, a 10 percent reduction. HHS would receive $111.9 billion, a 4 percent reduction. A manager's amendment and a Republican en bloc amendment package were both adopted by voice vote. The manager’s amendment included language on designating advanced nursing programs as professional degree programs and allowing them to qualify for the higher graduate student loan caps stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
The markup can be viewed here. The bill text before the adoption of amendments is here. The report released on June 8 is here. The manager’s amendment is here. A Republican press release is here and a Democratic press release is here. A funding chart from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) is available here. [Update: A June 22, 2026 HPNEC statement is available here].
House Subcommittee Advances FY 27 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill
This morning the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor-HHS advanced its FY 27 Labor-HHS bill in an 11-7 vote along party lines. Bill text is here, along with Republican and Democratic summaries. The Committee press release from yesterday is here and from today is here. A press release from the Committee Democrats from yesterday is here and from today is here. Information on Community Project Funding (earmarks) in the bill is here. Video of the Subcommittee markup may be viewed here. The full Committee markup of the FY 20227 Labor-HHS appropriations bill is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at 11am Eastern.
OMB and Federal Agencies Issue Proposed Rule on Federal Financial Assistance
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and over 40 federal agencies jointly issued a proposed rule, “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance”, on May 29 that would incorporate policies from several Trump Administration Executive Orders (EOs) and require a senior political appointee conduct a pre-review of each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure it is consistent with the law, agency priorities, and the national interest. The proposed rule also states that agencies must ensure that federal awards, to the maximum extent permitted by law, must not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate unlawful DEI or DEIA policies, principles, or practices. The proposed rule has a 45-day public comment period, with comments due no later than July 13. OMB proposes to issue a final rule that is effective by October 1 of this year. The proposed rule is available here. A summary from the American Council on Education (ACE) is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.
House FY 27 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill Released, Subcommittee Markup Scheduled for Tomorrow
Earlier this morning, the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee released the text of its FY 2027 funding bill, along with Republican and Democratic summaries. The subcommittee markup is scheduled for 8:00am Eastern tomorrow and can be viewed here. A Committee press release is available here. The full Committee markup of the FY 27 Labor-HHS appropriations bill is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at 11am Eastern in the 2359 Rayburn House Office Building.
The bill is expected to advance in the subcommittee along party lines, with most amendments likely reserved for full committee consideration on June 9th.
Overall, the House bill largely reflects the Administration’s budget proposals from the past two years, which have sought significant reductions in workforce and education programs. According to the Republican summary, the proposal would reduce overall FY 27 funding by approximately 3 percent below FY 26 enacted levels, including a 10 percent reduction to the Department of Education. The Democratic summary characterizes the proposal as a 9 percent overall funding cut, including a 10 percent cut to the Department of Education. The Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) would see a 4 percent cut. The Committee Report, which will provide additional program-level detail, will not be released until after full committee markup.
The bill also includes a $50 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award, raising it to $7,445. Press reports indicate that an additional $15 billion in mandatory funding would be provided to address the Pell Grant funding shortfall, though further details are expected in the Committee Report.
Overall funding for higher education programming is six percent below current levels, with TRIO, GEAR UP, as well as HBCU’s and MSI’s within the Aid for Institutional Development account, receiving small increases.
According to the Democratic Summary, the Committee would provide $7.6 billion for HRSA, a decrease of $440 million below the FY 26 level, excluding earmarks included in the 2026 enacted bill or the 2027 House bill. This recommendation would include $1.4 billion for Health Workforce training, $25 million above the FY 26 level.
Congressional Briefings on Student Loan Access and Strengthening the Health Workforce
On Wednesday, June 3 from noon-1:30pm Eastern, the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a congressional lunch briefing titled, “Securing the Nation's Health Workforce: The Critical Role of the HRSA Title VII and Title VIII Programs”. The briefing will highlight the importance of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs in addressing health workforce shortages and improving patients' access to care.
On June 8 from 2-3:30pm Eastern, the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), will hold a congressional briefing titled, “The RISE and Fall of Graduate Access; Student Loan Limit Implications for Graduate Degree Programs”. The briefing will open with remarks from congressional champions, followed by a cross-disciplinary panel of workforce and student impact testimony. Speakers will address enrollment impacts, increased reliance on private credit markets, effects on low-income and first-generation students, and workforce pathway consequences in affected fields.
Both events are are open to congressional staff.
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Accreditation Reaches Consensus
The negotiated rulemaking committee on Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) reached consensus last week on changes to the accreditation system that overhauls the accreditation system by making it easier for new accreditors to gain federal recognition and easier for institutions to change accreditors, streamlining transfer of credit policies, and adding requirements around academic freedom and intellectual diversity. If the Department of Education issues the final rule by November 1 of this year it should be in effect July 1 of 2027. A press release from the Department of Education is available here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is available here.
ASAHP 2026 Mentorship Program: Call for Mentees and Mentors
Department of Education Publishes Workforce Pell Grant Final Rule
The Department of Education issued its final rule this week on the new Workforce Pell Grant program, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The rule was published here in the Federal Register on Tuesday. A press release from the Department of Education is here and a fact sheet is here. A statement from House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) is here and a statement from Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here.
States and Organizations Sue Department of Education Over New Graduate Student Loan Cap Rule
Twenty-five states, all with a Democratic governor or attorney general, and Washington, DC sued the Department of Education on Tuesday, May 19 asking a judge to vacate the final rule on new graduate student loan caps limiting student loans for certain professions. The states contend the rule, which is set to take effect July 1, does not follow congressional intent from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
On Thursday, May 21, Democracy Forward with several organizations filed a lawsuit to prevent the implementation of the same rule. The complaint is here and a statement from Democracy Forward is here.
Reminder: Upcoming ASAHP Award & Grant Deadlines
Congressional Democrats Pursue Congressional Review Act Repeal of Department of Education Rule on Graduate Federal Loan Programs
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. John Mannion (D-NY), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) are pursuing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Department of Education’s finalized rule on graduate student loan caps. ASAHP has endorsed the resolution, as has the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member. A press release is available here and text of the CRA is here.
June 4 update: A press release from Sen. Merkley’s office is here and a list of nearly 200 endorsing organizations, including ASAHP, is here.