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A coalition of major public service and healthcare unions filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block President Donald Trump's student-loan repayment changes, according to the Department of Education. The unions argue that the administration violated administrative procedure with its narrowed definition of professional degree programs.

The Education Department proposed a $100,000 lifetime borrowing cap for graduate students and a $200,000 lifetime cap for students in professional degree programs. It also attempted to limit the definition of a professional degree to just 11 programs. However, a previous court ruling blocked the narrowed definition from taking effect, and the department released a revised list of qualifying programs while the legal battle continues.

The new lawsuit specifically highlights that the interim list still excludes professions such as master's degrees in social work, education, and public health, exacerbating staffing shortages in these crucial fields, as stated by Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The Education Department maintains that its definition of professional degrees is "lawful" and plans to continue defending it. The lawsuit adds to ongoing legal challenges against Trump's student-loan policies, including those contesting the professional degree definition and a separate case seeking to prevent involuntary borrower transfers from the Biden-era SAVE plan.