Merkley Challenges McMahon on Graduate Nursing Loan Caps in Senate Exchange
The video captures a Senate exchange where Education Secretary Linda McMahon defends new federal graduate student loan caps from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (effective July 2026), arguing a $100,000 aggregate limit and $20,500 annual cap for non-professional graduate programs will pressure high-cost nursing programs to lower tuition. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) argues the caps, especially the annual limit applied across three semesters in many nursing programs, will restrict access for most private-sector advanced nursing degrees. The accompanying narration notes the June 2026 final regulations, ongoing warnings from nursing groups and Democrats about excluding advanced nursing from the higher "professional" borrowing limits ($50k/year, $200k aggregate), and frames the core disagreement as whether universities will cut costs, students will turn to private loans, or taxpayers will fund more borrowing. Sourcing draws on the hearing exchange, Department of Education rules, and stakeholder warnings.
Source: Capitol Clips
