RELEASE: Rep. Laura Friedman Leads Healthcare Workers Rallying Against Trump Policy That Worsens Nurse Shortage
New loan eligibility restrictions threaten access to nursing training, makes healthcare more expensive
Above: Guillermo Mendoza-Lujan, RN, speaks while Rep. Friedman stands with healthcare professionals.
GLENDALE, CA — Today, December 8, 2025, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) joined frontline nurses, healthcare professionals, hospital representatives, and labor leaders at Glendale Memorial Hospital to rally against a Trump Administration policy that threatens to deepen California’s nurse shortage and drive up healthcare costs for patients and families.
A recording of the rally can be found here, here, and here.
The new rule, which stems from the Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, strips graduate healthcare programs like nursing, physical therapy, and mental health care of their “professional” designation, slashing access to federal student loans. This change makes it harder for future providers to afford the training needed to enter the healthcare workforce.
“When you make it harder for people to become nurses, you make it harder and more expensive for families to get care,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “This policy doesn’t just hurt students — it hurts every Angeleno who one day may need to rely on our healthcare system. Every empty hospital bed, every closed clinic, every delayed diagnosis, that’s the cost of this Trump policy.”
NURSING SHORTAGE CRISIS:
- California is projected to be short 61,000 nurses by 2033.
- Nearly 60% of counties statewide already face nursing shortages.
- 59% of nurses say they’re now less likely to pursue a graduate degree because of these new financial restrictions.
FRIEDMAN’S ACTIONS FIGHTING BACK:
- Joined dozens of colleagues demanding the U.S. Department of Education reverse the rule and restore full loan access for healthcare graduate students.
- Committed to working on federal legislation that would permanently fix the definition of “professional degrees” to include nursing, therapy, and other frontline healthcare programs.
- Friedman will post the Department of Education’s public comment link on Friedman.House.Gov as soon as it becomes available, ensuring constituents can easily make their voices heard.
Friedman was joined by Glendale Memorial Hospital President and CEO Betsy Hart, President of the California Nurses Association Sandy Reding, ER nurse and Secretary Treasurer of SEIU 121RN Guillermo Mendoza-Lujan, Executive Vice President of UNAC/UHCP Peter Sidhu, RN, President of the Society of Pediatric Nurses Dr. Jennifer Baird, President of the American Occupational Therapy Association Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, President of the Occupational Therapy Association of California Dr. Samia Rafeedie, and President of the California Physical Therapy Association Dr. Rick Katz.
Below: Friedman and healthcare workers rally against the Trump Administration decision.
###