Fact Check: Is Trump banning federal loans for students in low-earning college majors?

WASHINGTON, DC: Social media platforms have been swirling with debate following reports concerning the Trump administration’s updates to federal student financial aid. Numerous users on X asserted that individuals pursuing degrees in traditionally lower-earning disciplines—such as social work, fine arts, music, religious studies, and education—would be cut off from federal student loans under an incoming policy. With conflicting narratives circulating, a closer look at the facts is necessary to understand what these regulatory changes actually mean for higher education.

Claim: Trump bans federal student loans in low-earning fields

The online speculation began with a post from The New Republic that quickly garnered upward of 20 million views.

The publication asserted, “Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest.” Accompanying the post was an article carrying the headline, “Trump Moves to Cut Off Student Loans for Tons of Degrees.”

The report pointed to a Los Angeles Times piece discussing an Education Department rule designed to hold institutions accountable for ensuring that student borrowing corresponds with adequate post-graduation income levels.

As the narrative gained traction, other accounts expanded the list of supposedly impacted fields to encompass cosmetology, culinary arts, English literature, and film. This triggered substantial online pushback. While some users urged voters to push back against the administration, others claimed the policy was a deliberate attempt to lower educational attainment. Another user questioned the logic of penalizing therapeutic disciplines, writing, “Why is he doing away with so many therapy-type programs? Social work, Music, and Art are all therapy programs.”

Fact Check: False, Education Department disputed claim

These viral claims are entirely unfounded. The U.S. Department of Education pushed back strongly against the reports from The New Republic, clarifying that the administration is not outlawing federal student loans for specific majors like art, social work, or music, and emphasizing that the federal government has no authority to dictate college curricula.

In a statement posted to X, the Department of Education labeled the rumors as misinformation, writing, “This is fake news at its finest. First off, we’re not ‘banning’ any program. The federal government doesn’t set curriculum or programs.”

Instead of banning programs, the agency explained that the rule centers on institutional accountability and financial outcomes, aiming to prevent students from taking on unsustainable debt loads.

“Here’s the truth: we are holding colleges accountable for leaving students worse off than if they never enrolled. Too many graduates report delaying major life milestones like buying a home or starting a family,” the department stated.

The agency added that low return-on-investment pathways often burden students with unmanageable financial obligations that fail to lead to viable employment. Ultimately, the Department of Education defended the guidelines by asserting that federal loans are intended to facilitate workforce preparation rather than subsidize underperforming academic offerings, stating that students deserve transparency regarding the financial viability of their chosen paths.