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Now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has ended, it鈥檚 clear just how much we rely on public servants to keep our country running, often at a personal and financial sacrifice. Yet as the government reopens, a new rule from the Department of Education threatens to make public service an impossible choice for many.

The Trump administration is authorizing the Department of Education to remove nonprofits from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program if deemed to have 鈥渟ubstantial illegal purpose.鈥� This change puts the entire public service ecosystem at risk. At a moment when America desperately needs more teachers, nurses, social workers and legal aid attorneys, we cannot afford to strip away one of the strongest incentives for talented, service-minded people to choose these careers.

Under the new rule, organizations could lose PSLF eligibility based on a vaguely defined 鈥減reponderance of evidence鈥� that their work conflicts with administration priorities. Entire institutions could be banned if one department is accused of crossing an undefined line. That means workers who鈥檝e made years of qualifying payments could see their progress erased with no opportunity to respond and no right of appeal.

This is a direct threat to the stability of the public service workforce that holds our communities together.

Consider Equal Justice Works Fellow Cecilia Ballinger, who serves families in rural Alabama. In a region where hospitals and schools are closing and where even basic needs such as transportation or internet access are hard to come by, Cecilia helps children with disabilities secure vital services. Her advocacy extends far beyond individual cases; she is empowering entire communities to push for change. Without PSLF, advocates like Cecilia will be in short supply as fewer students will take on the financial burden of pursuing public service careers entirely.

Public service workers already face financial obstacles that keep too many Americans from pursuing these career paths. For instance, a starting public interest attorney around $69,000 annually 鈥� about one-third of what their counterparts at a large private firm can make 鈥� while likely carrying six-figure student loan debt. Teachers, nurses, social workers and other public servants face similar choices between lucrative careers and mission-driven ones. These gaps are even starker in rural and underserved communities, where salaries are lowest but the needs are greatest.

PSLF is a critical bridge, ensuring people who want to serve are not priced out of higher education opportunities. Without it, communities risk losing the very professionals they rely on most.

PSLF also establishes a sustainable workforce model. Because workers must make 120 qualifying monthly payments over a decade of service, while employed in government or eligible nonprofits, the program encourages professionals to stay long enough to master complex skills and meaningful community relationships. 

After those 120 payments are received, the remaining balance is forgiven, and those years of consistent service pays dividends. Students thrive under experienced teachers; patients are healthier under consistent care from nurses; and families benefit from social workers and legal advocates who understand their challenges deeply.

The fallout of these loan forgiveness rule changes would be devastating. Underserved communities would feel the brunt of it, with justice deserts widening, health care access shrinking and classrooms left without experienced teachers. Students of color and low-income students who already disproportionate debt loads would face additional barriers to pursuing public service. And clients would lose advocates who reflect their experiences and fight on their behalf.

As if these dire consequences were not enough to make policymakers seriously reconsider hobbling PSLF, there is also a question of whether the department has overstepped. Congress created the program to ensure Americans who dedicate a decade of their lives to public service can do so without being crushed by debt. The Department of Education to rewrite that promise.

As of right now, the rule changes are set to take effect in July 2026 鈥� which means we still have time to change course. Weakening PSLF would push countless professionals out of fields that sustain our democracy and safeguard our future. Policymakers must protect this vital program 鈥� not just for the workers who depend on it, but for every community in America that relies on teachers to educate our children, nurses to care for our sick, and lawyers and social workers to protect our most vulnerable.

When public service becomes financially impossible for people to serve their communities, we all lose.

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