Statement Opposing the Attempt to Eliminate Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for Supporting Trans Youth
At Trans Up Front, we condemn the federal government’s attempt to reshape the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). These proposed changes will not improve the PSLF nor protect borrowers. It will block huge numbers of student borrowers from receiving student loan relief and unfairly target hospitals, schools and nonprofits for simply serving trans youth.
Join us in fighting back today by submitting a public comment through the Federal Register linked below!
Congress established the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in 2007, which promises to forgive student loan debt after completing 10 years of eligible payments while working in public service. Since then, PSLF has included organizations such as hospitals, schools and nonprofits, encouraging many to work in the public service sector and greatly benefitting millions of borrowers from economic hardship.
On March 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that would drastically change an organization’s and borrower’s eligibility to the PSLF program. The executive order would change its definitions of key terms such as “child or children,” “surgical mutilation,” and “discrimination,” as well as modify a borrower’s and organization’s eligibility to the PSLF program. The proposed amendments to the program, as many advocates have argued, would make the definition of “illegal activity” ambiguous and leave sole decision-making to the Secretary of Education.
While at face value it seems these changes would continue to protect and improve the implementation of the PSLF, its purpose is to demonize and criminalize organizations that serve and advocate for trans youth, and it negatively impacts those in need of student loan relief. Organizations would be barred from the PSLF and be considered “illegal” for engaging in activities such as gender affirming care for youth.
Trans Up Front rejects these proposed changes and its inflammatory implications of providing care to trans youth as illegal, criminal and harmful to national security. This move by the federal government would force organizations to reconsider the care and education they provide, effectively putting trans youth in need of lifesaving care at risk.
We urge you to fight back with us and use your voice to truly protect the PSLF and advocate on behalf of trans youth across the country and our allies. Use the following link to submit a public comment today. Public comments are due on September 17, 2025.
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/ED-2025-OPE-0016-7221