SAVE Plan Cancelled

On Tuesday, the Trump administration revealed it would discontinue the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan in a court filing. Several GOP-led states previously challenged the SAVE plan in federal court. The administration’s settlement argued that the Biden administration’s SAVE plan illegally used taxpayer dollars to support federal student loan borrowers.  

The One Big Beautiful Bill would have phased out SAVE, along with ICR and PAYE, in July 2028. Borrowers will likely need to switch to another repayment plan after SAVE is terminated. Read more from Forbes. ASDA will continue to update you on important changes to federal student loans.

Department of Education Announces New Rules on Student Loans

The Department of Education announced changes to its Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. Borrowers previously needed to prove a “partial financial hardship” to enroll in the IBR program. The One Big Beautiful Bill eliminated this requirement and the change is expected to go into effect this month, per the Department of Education’s website.

The Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee also came to consensus on several new rules regarding student loans. Borrowers in the Repayment Assistance Program (RAP) will not face a marriage penalty, different from current income-driven repayment plans. RAP is scheduled to launch in July 2026.

The One Big Beautiful Bill’s new standard repayment plan will give borrowers a repayment period of between ten and 25 years. The current standard plan only permits ten-year repayment periods. The department established a new minimum monthly payment amount of $50 for the new standard repayment plan.

Read about these and more updates in Forbes.

Trump Administration Takes Steps to Close the Department of Education

Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to transition programs housed under the Department of Education to other administrative agencies. Various programs will be assigned to the Department of Labor, Department of Interior, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of State. The administration previously said federal student loans would be administered by the Small Business Administration, but the Office of Federal Student Aid indicated it would continue to oversee federal student loans.

New Study Links Fluoride to Improved Cognitive Health

Decades of scientific research indicates that fluoride is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay. A new study reported that fluoride also boosts cognitive ability. The study “Childhood Fluoride Exposure and Cognition Across the Life Course” found that subjects in high school and senior age who drank fluoridated water performed better on cognitive tests.

These new findings contradict research that studied more than twice the recommended amounts of fluoride in the U.S., claiming that it has a negative impact on children’s cognitive abilities.

EPA Court Case


An anti-fluoride coalition recently asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold the decision in Food & Water Watch v. EPA. The original case resulted in a judge ordering the EPA to more strictly regulate fluoride after a group of petitioners falsely claimed that fluoridated water has adverse health effects.



The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since filed to appeal the decision, arguing that the court did not consider all scientific evidence supporting fluoride, and challenging the petitioners’ standing to sue the EPA.

ASDA supports the use of fluoride as a safe and effective therapy in the prevention of tooth decay. We will continue to update you in this ongoing legal matter.

• A Florida House committee passed a bill to license dental therapists—mid-level providers between a hygienist and dentist. Read more.

• CMS’s finalized 2026 Physician Fee Schedule will introduce a new incentive payment for physicians who integrate oral health into their practice. Read more.

• The ADA, Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), and the American Board of Examiners (ADEX) have begun discussions on exploring clinical assessment pathways for licensure. Read more.

• Last month, the ADA wrote to the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means urging them to consider oral health in policy discussions about chronic illness. Read more.

• U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) filed articles of impeachment against Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for her assertion that he is “spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk.” The impeachment is unlikely to move forward in the House of Representatives. Read more.