CHICAGO, US: The US Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee has recently reached consensus on the full package of federal student loan changes proposed under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Beginning in July 2026, professional students in fields such as dentistry will be eligible to borrow up to US$50,000 (€42,876*) per year. However, dental hygiene students have not been included in this category and will remain subject to the lower graduate borrowing limit of US$20,500 per year. This policy distinction marks a notable shift in federal education financing, potentially widening the funding gap between dental and dental hygiene programmes. For aspiring dental hygienists, the restriction may heighten financial barriers, influence enrolment trends and challenge workforce growth in underserved regions.