The filing argues that ED unlawfully narrowed the definition of “professional degree,” leaving MPH and DrPH students subject to lower federal loan limits. The court previously stayed part of the rule after finding that plaintiffs were likely to succeed in challenging its added criteria.

ASPPH’s case specifically argues that MPH and DrPH degrees prepare graduates for professional practice and require specialized skills beyond the bachelor’s level. Plaintiffs are asking the court to require ED to treat these degrees, along with other degrees at issue, as professional degrees.   

Excluding public health from professional degree status can limit students’ access to federal financing and affect enrollment, institutional resources, and the pipeline of trained public health professionals. The filing cites evidence from ASPPH members that the policy is already affecting enrollment and could constrain faculty hiring, curricula, workforce training, and experiential learning.

ASPPH remains committed and continues to advocate through litigation, federal policy engagement, and congressional outreach to ensure public health students receive equitable access to federal student loans and that public health education is appropriately recognized as professional education.  

The initiative is expected to include research and clinical care for patients reporting vaccine injuries, along with efforts to improve adverse-event data collection and analysis. Plans reportedly include modernizing federal tracking systems and exploring reimbursement for clinicians who report suspected injuries.

Most recently, a federal appeals court heard arguments over a lower court order temporarily blocking Kennedy’s appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine policy. The lower court had found that Secretary Kennedy likely violated federal requirements when replacing the panel’s members and also temporarily blocked several changes to the childhood immunization schedule while litigation continues.

Meanwhile, the CDC is reportedly moving forward with funding for a previously suspended hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau. The proposed trial would withhold the vaccine's birth dose from half of approximately 14,000 newborn participants, raising concerns about research ethics and vaccine safety. 

Research on vaccine safety is an important component of immunization programs and public confidence.

Vaccines undergo rigorous clinical testing and regulatory review before approval, with safety monitoring continuing after distribution. Decades of research have demonstrated that widely recommended vaccines are generally safe and effective, with serious adverse reactions remaining rare. 

CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, with rare exceptions. Vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and flu-related deaths, and it can reduce the severity of illness among people who still become infected.

Timing matters because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for protective antibodies to develop. However, Vaccines.gov is currently producing errors when users search by ZIP code, potentially creating an additional barrier for people trying to find vaccination locations. 

Flu vaccination remains one of the most important tools for reducing severe illness and strain on communities and health systems. With October representing a key vaccination window, reliable public health information and accessible tools for locating vaccines are particularly important. 

The Association of American Universities (AAU), Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) argue that ICE abruptly changed longstanding CPT requirements without formal rulemaking or sufficient notice.

Under ICE's new interpretation, international students would only qualify for CPT when practical training is mandatory for all students in a program, potentially excluding elective internships and practicums. According to the plaintiffs, some institutions have already suspended authorizations, resulting in lost student opportunities. 

Internships and practicums are essential components of public health education, providing hands-on experience in research, community engagement, and workforce preparation. Restrictions could limit international students' access to these opportunities and disrupt academic programs.

ASPPH remains committed to expanding access to higher education for all students, including international students, and supporting policies that strengthen experiential learning, educational opportunity, and a diverse public health workforce. 

CDC offices in Angola and South Sudan recently closed, with Zimbabwe's office expected to close by the end of 2026. The closures follow new State Department agreements requiring partner countries to assume greater responsibility for financing health services.

The administration maintains that the agreements will sustain or increase CDC overseas funding, while current and former agency officials warn that the changes could significantly reduce the CDC's international presence. 

CDC's overseas offices support disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and emergency response, including efforts to address the ongoing Ebola outbreak in central Africa. A reduced international presence could weaken early-warning systems that help protect both global and US populations.

The closures also raise concerns about the sustainability of international public health partnerships, research collaboration, and workforce development, underscoring the importance of maintaining global disease surveillance and preparedness capacity.