Trump’s Bill Cuts Off Educational Pathways for Black Nurses in D.C.

November 24, 2025

The Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reclassified nursing, removing its professional degree status and severely limiting federal student loan amounts for nursing students to $20,500 annually with a $100,000 total cap, compared to $50,000 yearly and $200,000 total for protected fields. This change particularly threatens Washington D.C.'s healthcare system, where Black women comprise 86% of licensed practical nurses and the existing nursing workforce is aging, with over 60% of the city's 966 licensed practical nurses aged 50 or older. The reduced borrowing limits fall far short of actual tuition costs for advanced nursing programs in D.C., which exceed these caps by tens of thousands of dollars, threatening to block nurses from advancing into higher-paying leadership and primary care positions.

Who is affected

Black women nurses (86% of D.C.'s licensed practical nurses)
966 licensed practical nurses providing clinical care in Washington D.C.
Current and prospective graduate nursing students
Black residents of D.C. (45% of the population)
Underserved communities facing health disparities
Patients in D.C. hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health centers
Local nursing schools in the District
Kim Brundidge (practicing nurse pursuing doctorate)
Advanced practice registered nurses nationwide

What action is being taken

Kim Brundidge is continuing to practice while pursuing her doctorate
Local schools are warning about reduced enrollment and students being pushed out of programs
Health leaders across the city are expressing shared concerns about the impact

Why it matters

This policy threatens the foundation of healthcare delivery in Washington D.C., particularly for underserved and minority communities. With over 60% of the city's licensed practical nurses aged 50 or older and nearly 30% over 60, D.C. urgently needs new graduates to replace retiring nurses in critical roles. Black nurses and nurse practitioners play a central role in providing culturally informed care to communities facing longstanding health disparities, and limiting their ability to pursue advanced education will deepen existing inequities. Advanced practice nurses are essential to D.C.'s care system, and restricting their training pathways will reduce access to high-quality care that would otherwise be unavailable in many communities.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer