MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition on Tuesday secured summary judgment blocking a U.S. Department of Education rule that would have unlawfully restricted employers’ eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Wisconsin DOJ joined a multistate coalition in challenging the rule last November.
“The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program should be stable from administration to administration and used to support those who serve others,” said AG Kaul. “This ruling prevents the Trump administration from using the program as a cudgel in support of its agenda.”
PSLF allows public service employees to have their federal student loans forgiven after ten years of qualifying employment. The rule, set to take effect today, would have allowed the federal government to strip employers of PSLF eligibility for activities related to policies the Trump Administration opposes.
The Court granted the coalition’s motion for summary judgment, declaring the rule illegal and permanently blocking it from taking effect.
Joining Wisconsin DOJ in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
