A lawsuit challenging the Education Department’s plans to implement new federal loan limits on graduate students is set to run at least until December, according to a briefing schedule proposed by plaintiffs and the government. The suit includes health-care associations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, which argue ED’s definition of “professional degree programs” conflicts with the statute. A judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had put the definition on hold earlier, determining ED lacked authority to adopt a different definition than Congress used. ED has since released a list of 29 programs considered professional, while litigation continues. The next procedural steps include a summary judgment motion planned by Oct. 2. The timeline matters for graduate enrollment planning because uncertainty around eligibility can affect borrowing access and program demand.