The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled that the Department of Education’s restrictions on Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility are unlawful, marking a significant victory for public service workers.
Washington, D.C. — A federal judge has declared the Trump Administration’s efforts to politicize the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program unlawful. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that threatened to disqualify certain employers from the PSLF program.
This ruling follows a lawsuit filed in November 2025 by Public Citizen Litigation Group and Student Defense on behalf of several organizations, including the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, the American Immigration Council, The Door – A Center of Alternatives, Inc., and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
The lawsuit challenged a rule finalized in October 2025, which allowed the ED to disqualify an employer from the PSLF program if the Secretary of Education determined that the organization had a “substantial illegal purpose.” This rule granted the ED unilateral authority to decide whether an organization had such a purpose, based on its participation in activities that the administration disapproved of concerning immigration, discrimination, gender-affirming care, and other issues.
The plaintiffs argued that the rule violated the governing statutes of the PSLF program and enabled arbitrary enforcement against mission-driven organizations engaged in work or expressing opinions contrary to the government’s stance. They contended that the ED lacked the legal authority to alter the statutory criteria for PSLF.
“The court’s ruling is a major victory for those who work in the public interest and the communities they serve,” said Cormac Early, an attorney at Public Citizen Litigation Group and lead counsel on the case. “People who devote their careers to public service and non-profit work deserve access to loan forgiveness on the terms Congress promised, without the threat of retribution from the Trump administration.”
“Today’s decision is a victory for student loan borrowers, for the First Amendment, and for the rule of law,” stated Aaron Ament, President of Student Defense. “Public servants should not have to worry that the federal government will punish them because of their employer’s mission or perceived political views. We’re relieved that the court ruled our government must follow through on its promise of loan forgiveness for the millions of teachers, military personnel, and other public servants who have dedicated their lives to making our country a better place, regardless of ED’s opinions.”
Kerry Kennedy, president of the Kennedy Human Rights Center, emphasized the broader implications of the ruling. “The Trump administration’s baseless and blatant attempt to revoke Congressionally appointed benefits wasn’t just a threat to our nonprofit employees; it was a threat to everyone we serve, to the women, men, and children who rely on our organization to protect their most fundamental human rights. Today’s decision is an important victory and an affirmation of what Congress decided almost twenty years ago — public servants should be supported.”
Jorge Loweree, Managing Director of Programs and Strategy at the American Immigration Council, added, “Today’s decision protects public servants from a rule that would have punished them for simply working to support immigrant families and other underserved communities targeted by this administration. Public Service Loan Forgiveness was created to encourage people to work to help underserved communities and populations. This ruling affirms that the government cannot rewrite the terms of that promise for political reasons.”
Kelsey Louie, CEO of The Door – A Center of Alternatives, Inc., expressed gratitude for the ruling. “Today’s decision is a victory for every public servant who chose to dedicate their career to lifting up their community, and for the Latino families those public servants serve. The Department of Education does not get to rewrite the promise Congress made, and it certainly does not get to punish organizations like ours for the advocacy and civil rights work that is at the heart of our mission.”
In summary, the court’s ruling has significant implications for public service professionals and the communities they serve, ensuring that the PSLF program remains accessible to those dedicated to public service. The decision reinforces the importance of adhering to the original terms set forth by Congress nearly two decades ago.
The ruling is a pivotal moment for advocates of public service loan forgiveness and highlights the ongoing struggle for equitable access to educational benefits for all public servants. This decision underscores the necessity of protecting the rights of those who serve their communities, regardless of political pressures.
For more information, refer to the ruling and the original complaint.
According to American Immigration Council.