Underwood Statement on Trump Administration’s Final Rule Threatening Nursing Profession

May 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Lauren Underwood released the following statement after the Department of Education published their final rule limiting federal student loan eligibility for advanced nursing programs: “With the stroke of a pen, the Trump Administration just undermined a key pillar of our health care system: nursing education. This rule will make it more difficult and vastly more expensive for nurses to further their education and become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and nurse educators,” said Rep. Underwood. “America needs more nurses, not fewer. This rule is a slap in the face that will put more strain on our already overloaded health care system, raise costs for everyone, and put public health at risk.” The Trump Administration’s rule comes as the United States faces a historic health care crisis caused by Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, the largest cut to health care in our nation’s history. In addition to these cuts, the Big Ugly Bill places new caps on federal student loan borrowers who are pursuing graduate degrees that prevent borrowers from covering the full cost of their education. Now, the reclassification of advanced nursing programs will make schooling for nursing professionals more expensive and even more difficult to access, raising health care costs system-wide. Rep. Lauren Underwood is a registered nurse with a BSN in Nursing and a Masters of Nursing and Public Health.  She is the only Democratic  nurse serving in the 119th Congress. ### Issues : Health Care and Reproductive Rights