Education Dept Changes Rules on PSLF and Repayment Plans

The Department of Education has Opened Public Comment on a New Rulemaking process for PSLF, PAYE, and ICR. The Rulemaking is required under the Higher Education Act, and will involve Public Hearings and Negotiated Committee Input. Rules cannot be Retroactive or Conflict with Federal Law.

The Rulemaking could lead to Major Regulatory Changes in Three Key Federal Student Loan Programs: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). The Announcement marks the Beginning of the Formal Process to gather Feedback and Propose Regulatory Changes, a Process required under the Higher Education Act of 1965. This Rulemaking was expected both because of the Executive Orders that Trump (R) signed, along with the Ruling of the 8th Circuit Court, in Regards to SAVE.

Public Comments will be Accepted through the Portal, and Two Public Hearings will be Held: One in Person on April 29th, and One Virtual Session on May 1st. Anyone can Sign-Up to Speak at the Public Hearings. This latest Rulemaking Initiative, is the Department’s response to Changing Legal and Policy Circumstances, including Court Decisions and Executive Orders that have altered the Trajectory of Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs. The Department says it will use the Pprocess to assess existing Regulations and determine whether Revisions are needed to better Align with both Statutory Requirements and Operational Realities.

The Department has Signaled that this Process will include: Revisiting Definitions of a Qualifying Employer under PSLF, potentially aligning Future Regulations more closely with Arecent Executive Order issued by Trump that sought to Narrow Eligibility based on Employer Type rather than the Nature of Work Performed. In addition, the Department will consider Updates to PAYE and ICR Repayment Plans, especially in light of the Broad Injunction that called them both into Question. PAYE, enacted during the Obama (D) Administration, and ICR remains One of the Oldest IDR Options available. Both Programs could be Rewritten to Address implementation Inefficiencies or concerns about Outdated Provisions.

While the Department of Education can propose Regulatory Changes through this Rulemaking process, it Cannot Rewrite the Law. Regulations must Fall within the Statutory Framework of the Higher Education Act, and Cannot be applied Retroactively. That means Changes made through this Process would Not Alter existing Repayment Terms for Current Borrowers already enrolled in One of the Programs. For example, any effort to Change Eligibility Rules for PSLF must Comply with Existing Statutory Definitions, including Protections written into Loan Promissory Notes. Similarly, attempts to Eliminate or Overhaul PAYE or ICR, must be Justified within the Legal scope provided by Congress.

Furthermore, Congress can Override anything within 60 days of Implementation using the Congressional Review Act. While it's unlikely given the current Congress, it is something that Congress can do, and they recently did it with the CFPB's Overdraft Rule. Written Comments must be submitted through Regulations.gov within 30 days of Publication in the Federal Register. Oral Comments can be given during the Public Hearings, which require prior Registration.

Negotiated Rulemaking Committees will be formed after the Comment Period Closes. These Committees will include Representatives from various affected Groups and will work directly with Department Officials to draft Proposed Regulations. This is the Formal First Step. Once Rules are Proposed, there will be a Second Opportunity for Public Input, before any Final Rules are Adopted. Changes from this Process would Not take Effect until at least July 2026, so Borrowers would have time toAadapt to any Outcomes.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Local Health Departments Scramble after Cut in Federal Funding

Local Health Departments are being Forced to Modify Public Health Programs after a Slew of Federal Budget Cuts. Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, in Bismarck, ND, is among those Affected.

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health Director Renae Moch said they’re scrambling. She said they were Notified that the Department would be Losing nearly $200,000 in Federal Funding on March 25th, One day after the Change took effect.

“We had contracts for services with plans and dates that we were working through and abiding by. Congress Approved the Funds to be used for what they were being used for, so just the Abrupt Stop to All of that is what is most concerning,” Moch said.

She said they’re Stopping their Free COVID-19 Test Kit Program, as well as their Immunization Outreach Program, which lets Public Health Employees visit places like Schools to Administer Vaccines. She said Research Programs will also be Affected, as well as some Disease Outbreak Monitoring efforts.

“The need is still there, but the funding support for that is not. So, that has been challenging, to try and take a look at what we can do differently, what we can adjust,” Moch said. Plans for a Community Triage Center are also being Delayed, if Not Halted entirely.

Moch said it was going to be a Place where Mental Health and related Emergencies could be addressed to Free-Up space in ERs and Jails.

Those who need Help with Substance Abuse Disorders, or Wwho don’t have Homes, also would have been able to find Help at the Triage Center, but now will have to look elsewhere.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NSA Chief and Deputy Director Fired

National Security Agency (NSA), is the Leading Agency in Cryptology, Signals Intelligence, and Cybersecurity, Chief and Deputy Director was Dismissed. Gen. Timothy Haugh, who is the director of the National Security Agency and also heads United States Cyber Command, and his civilian Deputy Director Wendy Noble, were both Removed from their Positions.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT, 4th District), who is the Rranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, requested an Explanation as to why Haugh has been Removed. “I am deeply disturbed by the decision to remove General Haugh as Director of the National Security Agency. I have known General Haugh to be an honest and forthright leader who followed the law and put national security first—I fear those are precisely the qualities that could lead to his firing in this Administration."

“The Intelligence Committee and the American people need an immediate explanation for this decision, which makes all of us less safe,” Himes said Thursday Evening.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Sued Over China Tariffs

Trump (R) was Sued Thursday. over the 20% Tariffs He imposed on Chinese Goods. in the weeks leading up to Wednesday’s Broader Announcement. It marks the First known Legal Challenge against Trump’s Tariffs, which have fulfilled a Campaign Ppromise and rattled Financial Markets. The Lawsuit contests Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), arguing the Law Authorizes Asset Freezes and similar Economic Sanctions, but Not Tariffs. “Congress passed the IEEPA to counter external emergencies, not to grant Presidents a blank Check to write domestic economic policy,” the Lawsuit states.

The Suit was brought by the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), a Conservative Legal Advocacy Group, on behalf of Simplified, a Florida-based Small Business that Sells Planners and purchases Products from China. Filed in federal court in Pensacola, Florida. The Suit asks a Judge to declare Trump’s Chinese Tariffs Unlawful and Block their Implementation.

Trump first Imposed a 10% Tariff on Chinese Goods in a Febuary 1st Executive Order, and then Doubled it in another Order issued March 3rd. Both came before Trump’s Broader Tariff announcement on Wednesday, which imposes a 10% General Tariff on Imports to the U.S. and Higher Rates for Dozens of Countries. It slapped China with an additional 34% Tariff, creating a combined total of 54%.

“But in the IEEPA’s almost 50-year history, No previous President has used it to impose tariffs. Which is not surprising, since the statute does Not mention tariffs, nor does it say anything else suggesting it authorizes Presidents to tax American Citizens,” the Lawsuit states.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Musk Will Leave DOGE Soon

A Politico Article Reporting that "Trump has told his inner circle & members of his Cabinet that" Musk "will be stepping back in the coming weeks from his current role." Musk, however, has long been Anticipated to step back from DOGE, when His 130 days as a "Special Government Employee" Runs Out in May. Musk has been the Public Face of DOGE, since Trump (R) signed an Executive Order establishing the Office on Jan. 20th, 2025.

Musk was Officially Hired as a "Special Government Employee," which is a Rrole Congress created in 1962, that allows the Executive or Legislative Branch to Hire Temporary Employees for Specific Short-Term Initiatives. Special Government Employees are Permitted to Work for the Federal Government for "no more than 130 days in a 365 day period," according to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Musk's 130-day Timeframe beginning on Inauguration Day runs out on May 30th.

Musk and Trump have both previously Previewed that Musk's Role was Temporary and would come to End in the coming weeks. "You, technically, are a special government employee and you're supposed to be 130 days," Fox News' Bret Baier asked Musk during an Exclusive Interview with the DOGE Leader and Members of His Team Thursday. "Are you going to continue past that or do you think that's what you're going to do?" "I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that timeframe," Musk responded.

Trump hinted at Musk's Departure in Comment to the Media Monday, when Asked if He wants Musk to Remain in a Government Role for Longer than the Predetermined 130 days. Trump hinted at Musk's Departure in Comment to the Media Monday, when asked if He wants Musk to Remain in a Government Role for Longer than the Predetermined 130 days. "I'd keep him as long as I can keep him. He's a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He's very smart. And he's done a good job. DOGE found umbers that nobody can even believe," the President added.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Lawsuit Challenging Trump's EO on Elections

The Brennan Center and other Voting Rights Groups Filed a Lawsuit this week, against a Trump (R) Executive Order (EO) that Amounts to a Multifront Assault on the Election system. If Implemented, it Threatens to Disenfranchise Millions of American Citizens, Compromise the Privacy of Sensitive Voter Data, and Disrupt Election Administration Nationwide. But the Constitution gives States and Congress the Authority to Regulate Elections, Not the President.

One of the Order’s Directives tries to Force an Independent Bipartisan Federal Agency to Require Americans to Produce a Passport or other Citizenship Document to Register to Vote. It comes as Congress considers the SAVE Act, which Pushes a similar “Show-your-Papers” Requirement for Voter Registration, that would Block 21 Million American Citizens from Voting. Hardest Hit would be Younger Americans, People of Color, and Married Women who have Changed their Names.

New Hampshire served as a Stark Preview of the Toll the SAVE Act could take on Voters if Enacted. Last month, the State held its First Elections, since it Implemented a Law requiring Documents like Birth Certificates and Passports to Register to Vote. Eligible Voters were Turned Away from the Polls due to the Policy, and while some Returned to Cast their Ballots, others did Not.

So All States, should start using the New REAL Driver Licence or State ID, that will indicate if You are a Citizen ot Not.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Senate Confirms Oz as Head of CMS

The Senate has Cconfirmed Mehmet Oz, as Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), making Him the Head of Medicaid, at a time where its Funding is at Risk of being Severely Cut. The Senate Voted 53-45 along Party Lines to Confirm Oz.

The Heart-Surgeon-turned-Celebrity-Physician faced Intense Questioning by Democrats in the Senate Finance Committee. Oz often Dodged providing Specific Answers, providing Generalities.

The former Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate notably did Not say whether He supported potential GOP Cuts to Medicaid.

CMS provides Coverage for 68 million People on Medicare and 79 million People on Medicaid.

Much of what Oz said, Aligned with the “Make America Healthy Again” Agenda, led by Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I).

“Let’s be aggressive in modernizing our tools to reduce fraud, waste and abuse. This will stop unscrupulous people from stealing from vulnerable Americans and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund,” Oz said in His Senate Hearing.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker