What are your plans for the future? Are you planning on going to college? If so, you might want to start thinking about your career path. Many degrees that were once seen as reliable professions are now not being viewed the same way under Trump’s new legislation, the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

What is it?

The “Big Beautiful Bill Act” means that certain degrees, such as nursing, teaching, physical therapy, counseling, and social work etc, no longer qualify as professional degrees. These fields no longer meet the criteria for professional status under this new legislation. This means that these degrees might lose their professional recognition. Without this professional recognition, students working in those fields might face greater challenges obtaining licensure, securing employment, and being eligible for certain certifications. 

Who has been affected?

The “Big Beautiful Bill Act”  has affected many people whose degrees are not considered professional. As a result, they will face stricter rules when it comes to borrowing money in federal student loans. Students who are in these “non” professional degrees not only face stricter rules when it comes to borrowing money, but it can make it more challenging for a person to afford their education. This sets them in a position where they will have to work numerous jobs to make ends meet.  Compared to professionals in other fields, who are considered “professionals.” An example of this would be from a Lakota West English teacher named Isabella Maurer. When asked how she felt about this information, she expressed what she thought might happen in the future.

“ I think that we’ll be seeing a lot fewer people going into those fields, causing an even greater shortage in teachers and nurses, especially. I also think that it may cause these jobs to either become hourly instead of salaried or receive pay cuts or pay freezes due to the lack of funding. I’m not sure that there will be any good changes, but we’ll have to wait and see.”