The Trump Administration dropped its appeal of a court decision vacating a U.S. Department of Education rule; the California Attorney General’s office said the move leaves the District Court’s June 2026 ruling in place.
California Attorney General said he joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general that sued in Nov. 2025 and secured the June 2026 decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
The court held the Department of Education’s regulations were contrary to law, arbitrary and capricious, exceeded the agency’s statutory authority, and violated the First Amendment; by dropping its appeal the administration conceded the case, the office said.
PSLF is the federal program that forgives the remaining federal student loans of borrowers who work in public service and make 10 years of qualifying payments. The Attorney General’s office said the rule would have allowed the department to strip PSLF eligibility from employees of government and nonprofit organizations it deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose.”
The office listed examples of conduct the rule could have targeted, including providing legal services to immigrants, providing gender-affirming care to minors, participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and engaging in civil protest and assembly.
Attorney General Bonta said, “Our educators, healthcare workers, and first responders choose public service because they love their communities and want to make a difference. But that dedication often comes with significant financial sacrifice, which is why programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness are so critical. The Trump Administration tried and failed to turn a bipartisan promise into a political weapon, threatening the financial futures of hardworking Americans who have devoted their lives to the public good. The Trump Administration has now backed down and dropped its appeal, but our commitment remains unchanged: We will continue to fight for those who dedicate their lives to serving others, because a government that depends on public servants must also stand by them.”
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
This report was written from the primary materials below. Links open at the original publisher.
California Attorney GeneralSee something we should correct? Read our corrections policy.