Attorney General Mayes Blocks Weaponization of Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

PHOENIX — Attorney General Kris Mayes today released the following statement after a judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from denying loan forgiveness to teachers, nurses, and other public servants whose employers are not aligned with the administration’s ideology:

"Public servants who dedicate their careers to teaching our children, caring for patients, protecting our communities, and serving the public deserve the loan forgiveness they were promised," said Attorney General Mayes. "This ruling ensures the federal government cannot deny hardworking Americans the benefits they earned simply because of where they work or the values of their employers. I will continue fighting to protect Arizona's public servants and uphold the rule of law."

In November 2025, Attorney General Mayes joined a coalition of attorneys general in challenging a new rule from the U.S. Department of Education that unlawfully restricted eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which allows government and nonprofit employees to have their federal student loans forgiven after ten years of qualifying public service.

The rule, which was set to take effect today would have given the administration the power to deem state governments, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations ineligible for PSLF based on their support for immigrants, gender-affirming health care, or diversity programs.

Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition’s motion for summary judgment, declaring the rule illegal and permanently blocking it from taking effect.