Judges strike down Trump administration's overhaul of student loan forgiveness program

A pair of federal judges struck down a Trump administration overhaul to a public service forgiveness program for student loans, ruling Tuesday in separate cases in favor of advocates who said the program risked becoming a tool for political retribution.

U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Massachusetts vacated the U.S. Education Department's changes, saying they overstepped the agency's power and threatened to violate First Amendment protections for free speech. The ruling came in response to a pair of lawsuits filed by more than 20 states along with a coalition of nonprofit groups and cities.

In Washington, D.C., District Judge Amir Ali issued a similar ruling in a case brought by nonprofit organizations. The rulings came a day before the new rules were set to take effect...