Beryl Howell is a U.S. judge who has overseen major criminal and civil matters in the District of Columbia. Her current work includes federal cases tied to enforcement and rules affecting education financing and high-stakes litigation.
Federal student‑loan regulations have changed this week under the One Big Beautiful Bill and court rulings. The Education Department has rolled out new repayment plans, temporary interest‑rate cuts for autopay enrollees, and lifetime borrowing caps for graduate and professional students, while a federal judge has paused the department's narrowed definition of "professional degree," temporarily preserving wider borrowing access for many advanced‑health and other programs. Notices are going out to millions of borrowers who must pick new plans.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell has paused the Education Department’s higher-education borrowing caps, delaying changes set to take effect July 1 and keeping some limits from the Trump-era plan under review. The outcome hinges on ongoing litigation from nursing, education and related groups.