Filed Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case challenges the Trump Administration's disqualification of employers who provide services at odds with the administration's political agenda from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
On March 7, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness,” In which he declared that PSLF has “misdirected tax dollars into activist organizations that not only fail to serve the public interest, but actually harm our national security and American values.” It directed the Secretary of Education to qualify public service organizations that provide services that are contrary to the Administration’s political agenda. The Executive Order specifically targets organizations providing aid in the fields of immigration, terrorism, gender affirming care for minors, illegal discrimination, or protests (state tort law). On October 31, the Department of Education promulgated a Final Rule implementing this policy.
On November 4, 2025, the plaintiffs — non-profit organizations, including the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, American Immigration Counsel, The Door, and L.U.L.AC. — filed this lawsuit against the Department of Education and the Secretary of Education. Represented by the National Student Legal Defense Network and the Public Citizen Litigation Group, the plaintiffs allege that the Final Rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it is contrary to and in excess of statutory authority under the Higher Education Act, and is arbitrary and capricious. Plaintiffs also alleged that the rule was unconstitutionally vague in violation of due process and that it impermissibly chills speech in violation of the First Amendment. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
This case was assigned to Judge Amir H. Ali.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Zainab Mustafa (11/5/2025)
National Council of Nonprofits v. McMahon, District of Massachusetts (2025)
Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Education, District of Massachusetts (2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71872572/parties/robert-f-kennedy-center-for-justice-and-human-rights-v-mcmahon/
Bryant, Chris (District of Columbia)
Early, Cormac A. (District of Columbia)
Pulver, Adam R. (District of Columbia)
Rothschild, Eric (District of Columbia)
Zibel, Daniel A. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71872572/robert-f-kennedy-center-for-justice-and-human-rights-v-mcmahon/
Last updated Nov. 28, 2025, 12:18 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiffs are non-profit organizations, including the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, American Immigration Counsel, The Door, and L.U.L.AC.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education (District of Columbia), Federal
Department of Education (District of Columbia), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03860
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: