WA, other states block weaponization of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

A federal judge has permanently blocked the U.S. Department of Education from denying loan forgiveness to teachers, nurses, and other public servants whose employers are not aligned with the administration's ideology following a lawsuit by Washington alongside other states.

"So many Washingtonians have chosen a path of public service, opting to educate our children or care for people when they're sick instead of pursuing more lucrative careers. We owe them a debt of gratitude," Attorney General Nick Brown said. "This ruling should reassure the many public servants in our state their loan forgiveness won't be targeted for cynical political reasons."

In November 2025, Brown joined a multistate coalition in challenging a new rule from the Department of Education that unlawfully restricted eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The program allows government and nonprofit employees to have their federal student loans forgiven after 10 years of qualifying public service. The rule, set to take effect today, would have given the administration the power to deem state governments, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations ineligible for PSLF based on their support for immigrants, gender-affirming health care, or diversity programs.

On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition's motion for summary judgment, declaring the rule illegal and permanently blocking it from taking effect.

A copy of the judge's ruling is available here.

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