Executive Order 14235, Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 7, 2025, 90 Federal Register 11885 (March 12, 2025). "This article was drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model. All content has been reviewed and edited by Vernellia Randall to ensure accuracy and coherence.
This executive order directs the Department of Education to revise regulations governing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program in coordination with the Department of the Treasury. The order claims to protect public funds from supporting organizations engaged in illegal activities. However, its broad and vague language raises serious racial justice concerns, particularly in how discrimination is defined and how protest-related legal actions could be weaponized against racial justice organizations.
Summary of Executive Order 14235
The executive order revises PSLF eligibility criteria by barring organizations from qualifying if they:
- Aid or abet violations of federal immigration laws.
- Provide financial support to terrorist organizations or designated cartels.
- Engage in human trafficking, child exploitation, or organized criminal activity.
- Promote illegal discrimination or advocate for the violent overthrow of the U.S. government.
- Repeatedly violate state laws, including trespassing, public nuisance, vandalism, and obstruction of highways.
The order instructs the Department of Education to review and revise PSLF employer eligibility rules and conduct ongoing assessments to prevent misuse of loan forgiveness benefits. While it presents itself as a measure to align PSLF with legal compliance, its ambiguous definitions and enforcement mechanisms create a pathway for political targeting, particularly against organizations working for racial justice and civil rights.
Racial Justice Concerns: How Executive Order 14235 Threatens Equity
Weaponizing the Definition of Discrimination
A central concern is the administration's redefinition of illegal discrimination, which in recent years has shifted away from addressing historical and systemic discrimination against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Instead, recent policy trends have framed discrimination as primarily affecting white Americans, using this justification to attack affirmative action, diversity programs, and race-conscious public policies.
Under this executive order, organizations that provide race-conscious services—such as legal aid for Black communities, scholarships for underrepresented students, or diversity-focused education programs—could be wrongfully labeled as engaging in "illegal discrimination" and disqualified from PSLF eligibility. This effectively defunds racial equity efforts by cutting off student loan forgiveness for individuals working in civil rights law, racial justice advocacy, and minority-serving nonprofit organizations.
Criminalizing Protest and Civil Rights Movements
Another alarming provision disqualifies organizations based on a "pattern of violating state tort laws," including:
- Trespassing
- Public nuisance
- Vandalism
- Obstruction of highways
While framed as a crackdown on unlawful activity, this provision targets racial justice organizations that rely on peaceful protest and civil disobedience to push for policy change.
Historically, prominent civil rights movements—including those led by Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP, and Black Lives Matter—have engaged in sit-ins, marches, and demonstrations that often resulted in arrests for trespassing or public nuisance violations. Many states have passed anti-protest laws that criminalize these activities, and under this executive order, organizations involved in lawful protest actions could now be penalized by losing PSLF eligibility.
For example, if legal aid organizations defend protesters arrested under state laws that criminalize blocking roadways or occupying public spaces, they could be accused of facilitating unlawful activity and lose PSLF status. This provision silences advocacy by making it financially unsustainable for public service workers to continue their roles.
Disproportionate Impact on Black and Brown Communities
By restricting which organizations qualify for PSLF, this executive order disproportionately harms Black and Brown borrowers who pursue careers in racial justice, nonprofit advocacy, and legal aid. Many graduates from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions enter public service fields specifically to work for organizations that fight systemic racism—many of which could now be disqualified from PSLF eligibility.
This shift exacerbates racial wealth disparities by making student loan forgiveness less accessible to those who rely on PSLF to afford public service careers. Black borrowers already experience higher student debt burdens due to systemic inequities in education and employment. Blocking PSLF for racial justice organizations will further restrict economic mobility for individuals dedicated to advancing justice.
Recommendations for Resistance
1. Legal Challenges
Civil rights organizations should file lawsuits challenging this executive order under:
- Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment): If the policy disproportionately harms racial justice organizations.
- First Amendment Rights: If it punishes organizations for protest-related activities.
2. Advocacy to Congress
Sample Advocacy Letter to a Congressperson
Subject: Protect Public Service Loan Forgiveness for Civil Rights Organizations
Dear Representative [Last Name],
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding Executive Order 14235, which unfairly restricts Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility for organizations that support racial justice, legal aid, and civil rights work.
By redefining discrimination and criminalizing protest-related offenses, this order targets organizations that serve Black and Brown communities and discourages public service careers in racial justice advocacy. I urge you to:
- Introduce legislation that safeguards PSLF eligibility for civil rights organizations.
- Conduct congressional oversight hearings to review the implementation of this executive order.
- Oppose any funding restrictions that disproportionately harm racial justice advocacy groups.
PSLF was designed to support public service, not punish organizations challenging systemic injustice. Please immediately ensure that PSLF remains accessible to all Americans committed to civil rights.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
3. Public Awareness Campaigns
Sample Social Media Posts
Twitter/X:
🚨 Executive Order 14235 threatens racial justice work by redefining discrimination and criminalizing protest-related advocacy. We must fight back! Demand Congress protect #PSLFForAll. #ProtectPSLF #RacialJusticeIsPublicService
Instagram/Facebook:
📢 ATTENTION: PSLF is under attack! The new executive order could block civil rights organizations from student loan forgiveness, making it harder for advocates, lawyers, and activists to serve their communities. Take action now! Call Congress & share this post. #ProtectPSLF #StopEO14235
Conclusion: The Urgent Need for Resistance
Executive Order 14235 weaponizes PSLF eligibility to silence racial justice organizations and criminalize public service work. By redefining discrimination and punishing protest-related offenses, this policy serves as a backdoor attack on civil rights advocacy, potentially crippling the very organizations that fight for racial justice.
Without immediate action, the order will disproportionately harm Black and Brown borrowers, weaken civil rights organizations, and suppress racial justice activism. However, we can fight back through legal challenges, congressional advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and alternative state programs.
📢 Take Action Today!
✔ Call your representative
✔ Post on social media using #ProtectPSLF
✔ Support racial justice organizations
The fight for racial justice and economic equity depends on collective resistance—and the time to act is now. You, as part of our community, have a crucial role to play in this fight. Your voice matters. Your actions count.
