Insider Higher Ed: Lawmakers and Universities Push Back on Loan Caps

Hundreds of lawmakers have joined dozens of university leaders and academic trade associations in urging the Department of Education to amend its new regulations on federal student loans, arguing the current rule will deter students from pursuing high-demand degree programs and thus exacerbate dire health-care workforce shortages.

Read more here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2026/03/04/lawmakers-and-universities-push-back-loan-caps?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=96f3c22ca3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-96f3c22ca3-198493033&mc_cid=96f3c22ca3

Health Care Groups Form Coalition to Fight Loan Caps

Inside Higher Ed covered the work of a newly formed coalition, of which ASAHP is a member, which is spearheading advocacy in response to proposed Department of Education rulemaking on Higher Education Act provisions stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including the new student loan caps which would exclude most allied health graduate and doctoral programs from higher student loan caps.

The article by Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.

Journal of Allied Health Seeks Editor-in-Chief

The Journal of Allied Health (JAH), the official scholarly publication of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), seeks an Editor-in-Chief. The candidate will transition into this role to ensure the long-term continuity of the Journal, working closely with the current Editor-in-Chief, while he transitions to Editor-in-Chief Emeritus role.

Read the job description and apply here.

ACE to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid

On Tuesday, February 10, at 3pm Eastern, the American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and interested parties titled, “Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid”. Jessica Blake of Inside Higher Ed will moderate a panel featuring Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and others.

More details are here. ACE put out a two-page document here with background and talking points on the issue.

House Passes and President Trump Signs FY 26 Labor-HHS Bill Package, Ending Partial Government Shutdown

This afternoon, the House, in a 217-214 vote, passed the five-bill spending package funding the FY 26 Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State bills through the remainder of the current fiscal year, along with a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the Homeland Security bill through February 13. 21 Democrats joined most Republicans in support, while 21 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition. Prior to final passage, the House voted 217-215 to adopt the rule to consider the legislation, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) joining all Democrats in opposition. The Senate passed the package on Friday, and President Trump signed this package this afternoon, ending the partial government shutdown which began at midnight on Friday.

A statement from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, is here.

Senate Passes Funding Package Including the Labor-HHS Bill

On Friday evening, in a bipartisan 71-29 vote, and after Senators and the White House forged a compromise deal yesterday, the Senate passed a FY 26 funding package comprised of the Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State appropriations bills. Those bills would be funded through September, the remainder of the fiscal year. 

The Senate also passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13, allowing more time for Congress and the White House to negotiate that bill. 

The five-bill funding package and Homeland Security CR now need to be passed in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he hopes to bring up the bills under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process which requires a two-thirds vote in the House. A vote is expected as early as Monday. The likelihood of quick House passage remains uncertain.

The current CR for the six FY 26 bills, including the Labor-HHS bill, expired at midnight on Friday, triggering a partial government shutdown lasting until the House passes the funding package and President Trump signs the bills. 

Department of Education Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Comment Period on Higher Education Loan Caps

Yesterday the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing changes to the Higher Education Act (HEA) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, following the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) negotiated rulemaking committee reaching consensus on the package of proposed regulations in November. 

The proposed regulation sets new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. Graduate students would be limited to $20,500 in student loans per year (an up to $100,000 aggregate cap), while professional students would be limited to $50,000 in federal student loans per year (an up to $200,000 lifetime cap). The regulation narrows the programs that qualify as professional degrees, meaning students pursuing an array of advanced degrees in high-demand professions—such as allied health, nursing, and public health—would not be able to borrow as much as those in unaffected fields. The regulations would also eliminate the Grad PLUS program and multiple loan repayment options, limit Parent PLUS, and introduces streamlined repayment options for borrowers.

Since this issue arose, ASAHP has joined other organizations in outreach to the Department of Education (here, here, and here), urging that health professions programs qualify for the professional degree caps and expressing concern that a new, narrow definition of what constitutes a professional degree will deepen the health workforce shortage by creating uncertainty and limiting access to vital support for students entering critical health fields.

Public comment on the proposed regulations is now open through March 2. The Department of Education press release is here. The NPRM is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here. 

House Passes FY 26 House Labor-HHS Bill, Senate Consideration Next Week

Yesterday, the House passed a spending package, closing out its work on FY 26 appropriations. After passing the Homeland Security bill, the House passed a three-bill “minibus” package including the Labor-HHS, Defense, and Transportation-HUD bills in a bipartisan 341-88 vote. The Senate is expected to take up its remaining bills, including the House pass Labor-HHS bill, in a six-bill minibus package to expedite their passage in advance of the January 30 funding deadline. Once passed by the Senate, these appropriations are expected to be signed by the President.  

The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) has produced a chart on Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII and VIII Health Workforce Programs funding, which may be accessed here.