U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun blocks a Trump-era overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, striking down tightened rules just before they are set to take effect.Judge Myong J. Joun finds that the U.S. Education Department exceeded its authority and that the new criteria risk violating First Amendment protections by allowing exclusions based on employers' political views.The regulation would have allowed the education secretary to disqualify employers alleged to pursue a "substantial illegal purpose," including definitions that covered illegal immigration, support for terrorist groups and a contested definition of "chemical castration."The challenge, brought by more than 20 states, unions, cities and nonprofit groups, follows over 100 amici briefs supporting the challengers; the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, created in 2007, has forgiven loans for more than 1 million Americans and the
U.S. Education Department does not immediately comment.