May 20, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the United States Senate failed to advance S.J.Res.182, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution introduced by Senator Kaine (D-VA) to overturn the Trump Administration’s final rule establishing new and unlawful regulations for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The final rule—if allowed to go into effect on July 1, 2026—will grant Secretary McMahon broad authority to limit PSLF eligibility by disqualifying otherwise eligible public service employers if she determines they are engaging in activities she deems have a “substantially illegal purpose” which include: providing gender affirming care to transgender youth, supporting undocumented immigrants and their families, promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” and engaging in protests and demonstration activities.

The rule comes as the Trump Administration has used the power of the federal government to target and investigate cities, states and Civil Society organizations working to support our most vulnerable communities and push back against the Trump Administration’s culture war.  If allowed to go into effect, this rule will provide the Trump Administration with yet another tool to target sanctuary jurisdictions, immigrant rights groups, healthcare providers that offer gender affirming care, and employers committed to equal opportunity employment.

In response, Protect Borrowers Policy Director Aissa Canchola Bañez released the following statement:

“With today’s shameful vote, the Republican majority of the United States Senate just rubber stamped a blatantly unlawful rule that will allow Secretary McMahon to weaponize Public Service Loan Forgiveness in her quest to prosecute the Trump Administration’s culture war. If this rule is allowed to go into effect, public service workers seeking debt relief—from first responders to social workers, nurses and teachers—could find themselves caught in the middle of a political retribution campaign against their employer if McMahon decides their work conflicts with the Trump Administration’s extreme right-wing views on immigration, civil rights, or free speech.

“The Senate got it wrong today and millions of public service workers—and the communities that rely on them—will be forced to pay the price. We applaud Senators Kaine, Gillibrand, and Booker for leading the CRA effort to push back against these harmful attacks on the PSLF program and for standing up for public service workers across the country.”

Further Reading

Press release announcing lawsuit against unlawful PSLF rule: Cities, Unions, Civil Society Organizations Sue Trump-Vance Administration for Weaponizing Public Service Loan Forgiveness to Silence Critics and Stifle Dissent

Group letter to ED urging representation on negotiated rulemaking panel: Groups Urge U.S. Department of Education to Ensure Robust Representation on Student Debt Rulemaking Panel

186 organization letter to ED in response to ED’s notice about Negotiated Rulemaking to Implement a Trump Executive Order: Hundreds of Democracy, Labor, and Civil Rights Organizations Warn Trump Education Officials: Do Not “Weaponize PSLF”

SBPC advisory on Negotiated Rulemaking hearings: Borrowers and Advocates to Demand Protections for Millions at Neg Reg as ED Moves to Gut Affordable Student Loan Payments

AFT and SBPC statement on PSLF Executive Order: Advocates Blast Trump Plans to Sign Executive Order to Weaponize Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Stifle Free Speech Across America

Collection of borrower stories: Voices Behind the Student Debt Crisis

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About Protect Borrowers

Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) is a nonprofit organization led by a team of experts, lawyers, and advocates fighting to build an economy where debt doesn’t limit opportunity. We investigate financial abuses, take predatory companies to court, and push for policies to protect working people from debt traps. We aim to deliver immediate relief to families while building power, driving systemic change, and fighting for racial and economic justice.

Learn more at protectborrowers.org or follow us on social @BorrowerJustice.