Federal Judge Strikes Down Education Dept.’s New PSLF Employer Rule

A federal judge has thrown out the Department of Education's controversial new Public Service Loan Forgiveness rule, ruling it unlawful one day before it was scheduled to take effect.

In a 68-page decision issued June 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun of the District of Massachusetts (PDF File) held that the rule was "contrary to law," exceeded the Department's statutory authority, was "arbitrary and capricious," and violated the First Amendment.

His order vacated the rule entirely.

There's another case in the District of Columbia that's also about this same rule, still waiting on a ruling as of writing.