Trump’s Bill Sparks Outrage Over Nursing Degree Reclassification
The Department of Education, under the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” has excluded nursing from the definition of a “professional degree,” which could limit student nurses’ access to crucial funding. This decision, eliminating Grad PLUS loans and capping borrowing amounts for graduate students, has raised alarm among nursing organizations, who claim it will harm patient care. Despite concerns over the impact on an already strained nursing workforce, the Education Department dismissed criticisms, citing a consistent definition of professional degrees. This exclusion also affects other fields, while programs like theology are still deemed “professional,” raising questions about the criteria.
John Q. Hosedrinker