Wendy Brindley Hines, a nurse with a Master's degree who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, expressed complete shock this week upon learning that the president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reclassified nursing as a non-professional degree.
"I cannot believe that you would disrespect our profession!" Hines wrote on Trump's Facebook page, noting she voted for him each time. "Please reconsider your thoughts on this bill."
The Department of Education confirmed that nursing programs will no longer qualify for the highest federal student loan limits of $200,000, a designation reserved for truly professional fields such as theology and veterinary medicine. The reclassification affects approximately 260,000 nursing students nationwide during what health organizations describe as a critical nurse shortage.
Hines noted her middle daughter will graduate as a physical therapist in one month, while her youngest is planning to become a physician assistant. Both fields are also being reclassified as non-professional degrees under the legislation. "Grad school is very expensive....trust me I know! I have paid my way myself for each level of my education," Hines wrote, apparently having voted three consecutive times for the man now making that education more expensive for her own daughters.
The bill simultaneously provides more than $1.5 trillion in tax cuts overwhelmingly benefiting the top 5% of Americans. Budget analysts noted the interesting math of restricting education funding for middle-class healthcare workers while cutting taxes for billionaires, though administration officials described this as "fiscal responsibility."
When questioned why theology programs remain classified as professional while nurse practitioners who diagnose illnesses and manage patient care do not, the Department of Education dismissed concerns as misinformation.
Healthcare advocates warned the policy will worsen staffing shortages and limit Americans' access to primary care. However, supporters noted this demonstrates the importance of personal responsibility and possibly reading policy proposals before voting.
