{ "data_version": "1", "schema": "https://whatledto.com/data", "id": "us-department-of-education", "name": "U.S. Department of Education", "kind": "regulator", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/us-department-of-education", "description": "", "same_as": [], "timelines": [ { "slug": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "title": "Student Loans After SAVE: From the Court Block to the Repayment Assistance Plan", "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "json": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul.json", "role": "Administers federal student-loan policy, ended SAVE, issued the RISE rule, and oversees repayment, servicing, and collection changes.", "entries": 52, "updated_at": "2026-10-19T04:13:24.467271+00:00" } ], "entries": [ { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1777, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1777", "date": "2026-10-02", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education and Treasury launch Defaulted Loans Support Center", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of the Treasury launched the Defaulted Loans Support Center for borrowers with defaulted federal student loans. The online portal allows borrowers to apply for loan rehabilitation or consolidation rather than use mail- and fax-based processes.", "type": "launch", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "Defaulted Loans Support Center", "NASFAA" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "us-department-of-the-treasury", "defaulted-loans-support-center", "nasfaa" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-and-us-department-of-treasury-launch-new-defaulted-loans-support-center", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-09-30", "quote": "“The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced the launch of the Defaulted Loans Support Center, a new online portal that gives Americans with defaulted federal student loans a simpler way to understand their options, address default, and return to repayment.”" }, { "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0639/", "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "published": "2026-09-30", "quote": "“The launch of the Defaulted Loans Support Center gives borrowers with defaulted federal student loans a simple, streamlined way to understand the consequences of default and apply online to either rehabilitate or consolidate their loans.”" }, { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/39935/ED_and_Treasury_Launch_Support_Center_for_Defaulted_Borrowers", "outlet": "NASFAA", "published": "2026-10-01", "quote": "“Additionally, in an effort to modernize the process, borrowers will now be able to apply online for loan rehabilitation or consolidation, a process that previously was mail and fax-based.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1795, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1795", "date": "2026-10-01", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Paper IDR application with RAP enrollment option becomes available", "summary": "A revised paper income-driven repayment application with an option to enroll in the Repayment Assistance Plan became available. The Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project reported that the form was released on October 1, 2026.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "National Consumer Law Center", "Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Repayment Assistance Plan" ], "parties": [ "national-consumer-law-center", "student-loan-borrower-assistance-project", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "repayment-assistance-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://studentloanborrowerassistance.org/?eventDisplay=past", "outlet": "Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project, National Consumer Law Center", "published": "2026-10-01", "quote": "“Note: The new IDR paper application that allows you to enroll in the RAP plan was just released today, October 1, 2026.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1794, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1794", "date": "2026-10-01", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Former SAVE borrowers receive final 30-day plan-selection notices", "summary": "Some former SAVE borrowers received notices directing them to select a repayment plan within 30 days. The notices were sent after initial SAVE-transition windows for borrowers initially notified around July 1 had expired.", "type": "response", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-borrowers-save-deadline-extra-month-new-repayment-plan-2026-10", "outlet": "Business Insider", "published": "2026-10-01", "quote": "“If you do not take immediate action to select a repayment plan, we will place you into a repayment plan in 30 days.”" }, { "url": "https://studentaid.gov/articles/save/", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-10", "quote": "If you don’t act within that 90-day period, your servicer will send you a final 30-day notice." }, { "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-borrowers-timeline-transition-off-save-new-repayment-plan-2026-10", "outlet": "Business Insider", "published": "2026-10-13", "quote": "Now, borrowers have told Business Insider that as their deadline approached at the end of September, they received a 30-day \"final notice\" to select a new plan, which extended their deadline by one month." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1641, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1641", "date": "2026-09-29", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department extends auto-pay discount enrollment deadline", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education extended the deadline to enroll in auto pay for the temporary 1-percentage-point interest-rate reduction to December 31, 2026. Borrowers enrolled by that date, or already enrolled, will receive the reduction through June 30, 2028.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Federal student-loan borrowers", "NASFAA" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "federal-student-loan-borrowers", "nasfaa" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-extends-enrollment-period-student-loan-interest-rate-reduction", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-09-29", "quote": "“Borrowers who enroll in auto pay by December 31, 2026, or those who are already enrolled, will benefit from the interest rate reduction through June 30, 2028.”" }, { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/39918/ED_Extends_Interest_Rate_Reduction_Initiative_Deadline_for_Borrowers_to_Enroll_In_Auto_Pay", "outlet": "NASFAA", "published": "2026-09-30", "quote": "“On Tuesday, ED announced that interested borrowers now have until December 31, 2026, to enroll in auto pay and receive this benefit.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1640, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1640", "date": "2026-09-28", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Federal Student Aid distributes FY 2023 cohort-default-rate notices", "summary": "Federal Student Aid distributed FY 2023 official cohort default rate notification packages to eligible domestic and foreign schools. Federal Student Aid said the school-specific packages were scheduled for public release on September 30, 2026, with appeals beginning October 6.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "Federal Student Aid", "U.S. Department of Education", "Eligible domestic and foreign schools" ], "parties": [ "federal-student-aid", "us-department-of-education", "eligible-domestic-and-foreign-schools" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-09-29/distribution-fy-2023-official-cohort-default-rates-and-appeal-timeline", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-09-29", "quote": "“On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, Federal Student Aid (FSA) distributed the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) official cohort default rate (CDR) notification packages to all eligible domestic and foreign schools.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1560, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1560", "date": "2026-09-22", "date_precision": "day", "title": "State ombudspersons urge delay of mandatory repayment-plan transitions", "summary": "State student-loan ombudspersons urged the U.S. Department of Education to delay mandatory repayment-plan transitions. They said the delay should continue until operational failures were resolved.", "type": "response", "entities": [ "State student loan ombudspersons", "U.S. Department of Education" ], "parties": [ "state-student-loan-ombudspersons", "us-department-of-education" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://forbeseurope.uk/?data=zaq1%2Fsites%2Fadamminsky%2F2026%2F09%2F24%2Feducation-department-must-pause-student-loans-as-chaos-deepens-advocates-say%2F", "outlet": "Forbes", "published": "2026-09-24", "quote": "To address these issues, we urge the Department to take immediate corrective action, including delaying mandatory repayment plan transitions until these operational failures are fully resolved." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1559, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1559", "date": "2026-09-22", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department requests emergency processing for revised PSLF form", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education requested emergency processing for a revision to an existing information collection. The request concerned the PSLF and TEPSLF Certification and Application.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Public Service Loan Forgiveness", "Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "public-service-loan-forgiveness", "temporary-expanded-public-service-loan-forgiveness" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/federal-registers/2026-09-22/comment-request-public-service-loan-forgiveness-pslf-temporary-expanded-pslf-tepslf-certification-and-application", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-09-22", "quote": "The Department of Education (Department) is requesting emergency processing for a revision to an existing information collection." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1453, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1453", "date": "2026-09-21", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Colleges apply different interpretations of PLUS grandfathering", "summary": "Inside Higher Ed reported that colleges used different interpretations of the expected-time-to-credential exception for continuing students. Texas Christian University used completed credit hours in one Parent PLUS determination, while Loyola Marymount University said it would use years enrolled pending written Federal Student Aid guidance.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "Texas Christian University", "Loyola Marymount University", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Parent PLUS", "Grad PLUS" ], "parties": [ "texas-christian-university", "loyola-marymount-university", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "parent-plus", "grad-plus" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2026/09/21/students-and-colleges-grapple-new-loan-limits", "outlet": "Inside Higher Ed", "published": "2026-09-21", "quote": "But not all colleges see the department’s clarification, delivered via a webinar, as binding." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1452, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1452", "date": "2026-09-17", "date_precision": "day", "title": "NASFAA advises legal review of expected-time-to-credential guidance", "summary": "NASFAA advised financial-aid administrators to seek legal counsel over uncertainty in Education Department guidance on the expected-time-to-credential exception. NASFAA said the August 12 webinar used completed credit hours after earlier written guidance directed schools to use time enrolled, while the Department said its clarification was not a policy change.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Grad PLUS", "Parent PLUS" ], "parties": [ "national-association-of-student-financial-aid-administrators", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "grad-plus", "parent-plus" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/39831/_Expected_Time_to_Credential_Q_A", "outlet": "National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators", "published": "2026-09-17", "quote": "In this uncertain environment, NASFAA advises that financial aid administrators consult with legal counsel to assess risk and determine the best course of action." }, { "url": "https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2026/09/21/students-and-colleges-grapple-new-loan-limits", "outlet": "Inside Higher Ed", "published": "2026-09-21", "quote": "ED has said the clarification didn’t represent a change in policy." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 539, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n539", "date": "2026-08-27", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department appeals the PSLF vacatur to the First Circuit", "summary": "The department notified the court on August 27 that it would appeal Judge Myong J. Joun's June 30 decision, which granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs and vacated the PSLF employer-eligibility rule, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The vacatur stays in effect while the appeal is pending, so the 'substantial illegal purpose' employer test is not being applied.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit", "Public Service Loan Forgiveness", "Myong J. Joun" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "us-court-of-appeals-for-the-first-circuit", "public-service-loan-forgiveness", "myong-j-joun" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/39696/ED_Appeals_Court_Decision_That_Struck_Down_PSLF_Final_Rule", "outlet": "NASFAA", "published": "2026-08-28", "quote": "“The vacatur remains in effect while the appeal is pending.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1277, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1277", "date": "2026-08-17", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department files Havens dismissal reply", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education and Linda McMahon filed a reply supporting their motion to dismiss the Havens case on August 17, 2026. The reply addressed opposition to their July 14 dismissal motion.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "Heather Havens", "Elizabeth Robeson", "Anna Grunseth", "William Boykin" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "heather-havens", "elizabeth-robeson", "anna-grunseth", "william-boykin" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://dockets.justia.com/docket/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2026cv00816/290158", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia docket", "published": null, "quote": "August 17, 2026 Filing 32 REPLY to opposition to motion re #24 Motion to Dismiss,,, Motion to Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction,, filed by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION." }, { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/87014/final-save-plan-lawsuit-when-borrowers-could-get-an-answer/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-08", "quote": "The U.S. Department of Education filed its reply brief in support of its motion to dismiss in Havens v. U.S. Department of Education on August 17, 2026." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1276, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1276", "date": "2026-08-17", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department corrects Havens supplemental filing", "summary": "The Education Department filed a notice correcting the supplemental memorandum it had submitted in the Havens case, attaching a corrected brief, a redline and a corrected declaration.", "type": "response", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "Anthony Lowery", "Heather Havens", "Elizabeth Robeson", "Anna Grunseth", "William Boykin" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "anthony-lowery", "heather-havens", "elizabeth-robeson", "anna-grunseth", "william-boykin" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72379585/havens-v-us-department-of-education/", "outlet": "CourtListener (Havens v. US Department of Education, D.D.C. 1:26-cv-00816)", "published": "2026-08-17", "quote": "Aug 17, 2026 NOTICE of Correction by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION re 27 Supplemental Memorandum," } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1451, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1451", "date": "2026-08-12", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Federal Student Aid uses credit hours for Grad PLUS grandfathering", "summary": "Federal Student Aid instructed schools to calculate continuing borrowers’ expected time to credential using completed credit hours rather than time enrolled. The calculation determines how long grandfathered borrowers may retain access to Grad PLUS after new borrowing closed on July 1, 2026.", "type": "response", "entities": [ "Federal Student Aid", "U.S. Department of Education", "Grad PLUS" ], "parties": [ "federal-student-aid", "us-department-of-education", "grad-plus" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/86922/ed-changes-grad-plus-rule-credit-hours/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-09-20", "quote": "ED now counts credit hours, not time, for Grad PLUS uncapped grandfathering." }, { "url": "https://seam.jhu.edu/financial-aid/one-big-beautiful-bill-act/legacy-borrowers/", "outlet": "Johns Hopkins University Student Enrollment and Account Management", "published": "2026-09-03", "quote": "Based on current guidance (August 12, 2026) from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), we calculate expected time to credential (ETTC) based upon the number of credits required to complete your current program of study, the number of credits you completed for your program as of June 30, 2026, and the University’s definition of full-time enrollment for an academic year." }, { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/Loan%20Limits%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20May%2020.%202026%205%20p.m_.pdf", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-05-20", "quote": "To calculate a student’s expected time to credential, determine the difference between the program length in weeks, months, or years (as defined by the institution) and the period of such program of study that such individual has completed prior to July 1, 2026." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 538, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n538", "date": "2026-08-11", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Labor unions file RISE professional-degree lawsuit", "summary": "AFL-CIO, AFSCME, American Federation of Teachers, and National Nurses United filed a lawsuit challenging the RISE professional-degree definition. The complaint also challenged RISE restrictions on transition protection for some already-enrolled borrowers.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "AFL-CIO", "AFSCME", "American Federation of Teachers", "National Nurses United", "U.S. Department of Education", "RISE rule" ], "parties": [ "afl-cio", "afscme", "american-federation-of-teachers", "national-nurses-united", "us-department-of-education", "rise-rule" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/American-Federation-of-Labor-and-Congress-of-Industrial-Organizations-v.-U.S.-Department-of-Education-Complaint-Aug.-11-2026.pdf", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia", "published": "2026-08-11", "quote": "“This lawsuit thus pursues objectives germane to the AFL-CIO’s purposes.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 544, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n544", "date": "2026-08-10", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Massachusetts judge denies nursing groups' RISE injunction request", "summary": "A Massachusetts federal judge denied without prejudice nursing associations' request for preliminary relief from the RISE professional-degree definition. The court found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on their contrary-to-law argument but found no present irreparable harm requiring an injunction.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "American Nurses Association", "American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology", "National Rural Health Association", "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "Repayment Assistance Plan", "RISE rule", "U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts", "Patti B. Saris" ], "parties": [ "american-nurses-association", "american-association-of-nurse-anesthesiology", "national-rural-health-association", "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "repayment-assistance-plan", "rise-rule", "us-district-court-for-the-district-of-massachusetts", "patti-b-saris" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/1%3A2026cv12443/301358/58", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, via Justia docket filing", "published": "2026-08-10", "quote": "“Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction and a stay (Dkt. 14) is DENIED without prejudice to supplementation or renewal consistent with this opinion.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 548, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n548", "date": "2026-08-07", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Havens v. Education Department: SAVE borrowers ask for an emergency order to halt the forced plan moves", "summary": "Four borrowers who sued in March 2026, arguing the department must implement SAVE or, failing that, the REPAYE plan it replaced, filed their response to the government's motion to dismiss and asked the D.C. district court to pause the transfer of roughly seven million borrowers out of the SAVE forbearance. The department argued the Eighth Circuit had already found REPAYE forgiveness had the same legal defect as SAVE and that Congress ends REPAYE on July 1, 2028 regardless.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "us-district-court-for-the-district-of-columbia", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/86003/final-save-plan-lawsuit-asks-judge-to-revive-repaye-for-7-million-borrowers/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-08-07", "quote": "On August 7, the four borrowers behind the case filed their response to the Education Department's request to throw the case out, and they asked the judge for an emergency order that would pause the forced move of roughly 7 million borrowers into new repayment plans." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1273, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1273", "date": "2026-07-14", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department seeks dismissal of Havens challenge", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education and Linda McMahon moved to dismiss the Havens case, including for lack of jurisdiction, on July 14, 2026. The Justice Department also told the court that the lawsuit seeking to stop the SAVE shutdown should be dismissed.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "Heather Havens", "Elizabeth Robeson", "Anna Grunseth", "William Boykin" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "heather-havens", "elizabeth-robeson", "anna-grunseth", "william-boykin" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://dockets.justia.com/docket/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2026cv00816/290158", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia docket", "published": null, "quote": "July 14, 2026 Filing 24 MOTION to Dismiss , MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION." }, { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/84520/education-department-asks-court-to-toss-final-lawsuit-blocking-save-plan-shutdown/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-07", "quote": "The Justice Department told a federal judge on July 14 that the last active lawsuit trying to stop the SAVE plan shutdown should be dismissed." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 536, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n536", "date": "2026-07-13", "date_precision": "day", "title": "GAO finds gaps in Education's servicer-change instructions", "summary": "The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that servicers faced implementation challenges because Education did not consistently provide clear advance instructions for program changes. GAO recommended criteria for early coordination with servicers, and the U.S. Department of Education disagreed with that recommendation.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "U.S. Government Accountability Office", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid" ], "parties": [ "us-government-accountability-office", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107780", "outlet": "U.S. Government Accountability Office", "published": "2026-07-13", "quote": "“We found servicers faced challenges implementing program changes due to a lack of clear upfront instruction from Education.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1272, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1272", "date": "2026-07-01", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Education Department begins sending SAVE transition notices", "summary": "The U.S. Department of Education began sending 90-day notices to SAVE borrowers on July 1, 2026. The notices were sent in waves, and the earliest required move to a new plan was September 29, 2026.", "type": "launch", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/84520/education-department-asks-court-to-toss-final-lawsuit-blocking-save-plan-shutdown/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-07", "quote": "The Department of Education began sending 90-day notices on July 1, 2026, and the earliest a borrower can be required to move to a new plan is September 29, 2026." }, { "url": "https://studentloanborrowerassistance.org/confused-about-the-save-plan-ending/", "outlet": "Student Loan Borrower Assistance / National Consumer Law Center", "published": "2026-09-02", "quote": "These notices are being sent in waves." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 528, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n528", "date": "2026-07-01", "date_precision": "day", "title": "The Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard plan go live; Grad PLUS closes to new borrowers", "summary": "The law's main provisions took effect. RAP sets payments at 1 to 10 percent of income minus $50 per dependent with a $10 floor, waives unpaid monthly interest for on-time payers and adds up to $50 a month toward principal, with any balance discharged after 360 payments. The Tiered Standard plan runs 10 to 25 years by balance. New graduate borrowers face the $20,500 and $50,000 annual caps, and servicers began the 90-day exit notices to SAVE enrollees. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said nearly 46,000 borrowers applied for RAP on day one, after a weekend-long StudentAid.gov outage.", "type": "launch", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Repayment Assistance Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "repayment-assistance-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/fact-sheet-trump-administration-making-higher-education-more-affordable-expanding-opportunity-and-simplifying-student-loan-repayment", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-07-01", "quote": "Effective today, July 1, 2026, key provisions of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act (the Act) take effect, simplifying student loan repayment, making higher education more affordable, and expanding access to high-quality, short-term education and workforce programs. Choose Your New Student Loan Repayment Plan Today! Starting today, federal student loan borrowers can enroll in the new Tiered Standard repayment plan or the new income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)." }, { "url": "https://thecollegeinvestor.com/83679/nearly-46000-borrowers-applied-for-the-new-rap-student-loan-plan-on-day-one/", "outlet": "The College Investor", "published": "2026-07-01", "quote": "The Department of Education's new income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) officially launched July 1, and nearly 46,000 borrowers submitted applications to enroll on day one, according to Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 534, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n534", "date": "2026-06-30", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Judge Joun vacates the PSLF 'substantial illegal purpose' rule hours before it takes effect", "summary": "Judge Myong J. Joun of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs and vacated the Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer-eligibility rule on June 30, the day before its July 1 effective date. On July 13 Federal Student Aid said it was removing the employer attestation it had just added to the PSLF form to comply with the order.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts", "Myong J. Joun", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "Public Service Loan Forgiveness" ], "parties": [ "us-district-court-for-the-district-of-massachusetts", "myong-j-joun", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "public-service-loan-forgiveness" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/1%3A2025cv13242/291142/127", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts", "published": "2026-06-30", "quote": "“The Final Rule is VACATED.”" }, { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/federal-registers/2026-07-13/comment-request-public-service-loan-forgiveness-pslf-temporary-expanded-pslf-tepslf-certification-and-application", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-07-13", "quote": "“The Department is now removing the attestation from the PSLF form in order to comply with the court order.”" }, { "url": "https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2025cv03860/286525/47", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, via Justia docket filing", "published": "2026-06-30", "quote": "“The court agrees and vacates the rule.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 527, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n527", "date": "2026-06-24", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Judge Howell stays the narrow 'professional degree' definition a week before the loan caps bite", "summary": "In consolidated suits led by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Judge Beryl Howell of the D.C. district court preliminarily stayed the part of the RISE rule that had limited the $50,000-a-year professional tier to 11 degrees, writing that 'Congress could not have been clearer'. Federal Student Aid responded with an interim list of more than 20 programs, adding nursing, physician associate and speech-language pathology degrees, while saying it would keep defending its definition.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "Beryl Howell", "American Association of Nurse Practitioners", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid" ], "parties": [ "beryl-howell", "american-association-of-nurse-practitioners", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-06-29/update-list-professional-degree-programs-due-court-order-updated-july-10-2026", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid (Electronic Announcement GENERAL-26-42)", "published": "2026-06-29", "quote": "On June 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in consolidated cases Nos. 26-1780, 26-1941, preliminarily stayed part of the U.S. Department of Education’s (the Department’s) professional degree definition contained in the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Final Rule published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2026." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 1271, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n1271", "date": "2026-06-23", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Havens plaintiffs file preliminary-injunction motion", "summary": "William Boykin, Anna Grunseth, Heather Havens, and Elizabeth Robeson filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on June 23, 2026. The docket identifies their August 7 filing as a reply to opposition to that motion.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "William Boykin", "Anna Grunseth", "Heather Havens", "Elizabeth Robeson", "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon" ], "parties": [ "william-boykin", "anna-grunseth", "heather-havens", "elizabeth-robeson", "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://dockets.justia.com/docket/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2026cv00816/290158", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia docket", "published": null, "quote": "June 23, 2026 Filing 19 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON." }, { "url": "https://dockets.justia.com/docket/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2026cv00816/290158", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia docket", "published": null, "quote": "August 7, 2026 Filing 29 REPLY to opposition to motion re #19 Motion for Preliminary Injunction,, filed by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 532, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n532", "date": "2026-06-23", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Federal Student Aid reports about nine million borrowers in default", "summary": "Federal Student Aid released portfolio reports containing data through March 31, 2026. The reports showed approximately nine million federally managed loan recipients in default, 8.4 million recipients in forbearance, and approximately 13 million borrowers in IDR plans.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "Federal Student Aid", "U.S. Department of Education", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "federal-student-aid", "us-department-of-education", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-06-23/federal-student-aid-posts-updated-reports-fsa-data-center", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-06-23", "quote": "“This update refreshes more than 70 quarterly application, disbursement, and loan portfolio reports to include data through March 31, 2026.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 526, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n526", "date": "2026-06-18", "date_precision": "day", "title": "One-point interest rate cut for borrowers on auto pay, if they enroll by September 30", "summary": "To push borrowers into the new plans and back onto automatic payments, the department offered a 1 percentage point interest reduction from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028 for anyone enrolled in auto pay by September 30, 2026, up from the usual 0.25 point discount. It said auto-pay enrollment had fallen from more than 80 percent of borrowers in active repayment before the pandemic to 40 percent.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-student-loan-interest-rate-reduction", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-06-18", "quote": "Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced that federal student loan borrowers enrolled in auto pay will be eligible for a 1 percent interest rate reduction beginning July 1. Borrowers who enroll in auto pay by September 30, 2026, or who are already enrolled, will benefit from the interest rate reduction through June 30, 2028." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 547, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n547", "date": "2026-06-16", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Glitches and bad payment estimates hit borrowers two weeks before the July 1 switch", "summary": "Borrower-assistance groups told CNBC that the department's online income-driven repayment application was showing wrong plan eligibility and monthly payment estimates, servicers were sending erroneous delinquency notices to borrowers still in forbearance, and some borrowers were being told to consolidate unnecessarily, as nearly seven million SAVE enrollees prepared to change plans with an agency that had lost close to half its staff.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/16/student-loan-borrowers-glitches.html", "outlet": "CNBC", "published": "2026-06-16", "quote": "But student loan borrowers are encountering technical issues and misinformation in the weeks leading up to the massive changes, advocates say." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 531, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n531", "date": "2026-05-21", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Associations file D.C. challenge to RISE degree definition", "summary": "Six professional and education associations filed a lawsuit challenging the RISE professional-degree definition and its July 1 effective date. The complaint alleged that the rule created a narrower eligibility test for higher professional-student borrowing caps.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "American Association of Nurse Practitioners", "National Education Association", "American Association of Colleges of Nursing", "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "RISE rule" ], "parties": [ "american-association-of-nurse-practitioners", "national-education-association", "american-association-of-colleges-of-nursing", "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "rise-rule" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Association-Plaintiffs-Complaint-RISE-Rule201481470.1.pdf", "outlet": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia", "published": "2026-05-21", "quote": "“The Department issued the final rule on May 1, 2026.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 530, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n530", "date": "2026-05-19", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Multistate coalition challenges RISE professional-degree definition", "summary": "A multistate coalition sued the U.S. Department of Education over the RISE rule's professional-degree definition. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said the definition affected nursing, physician-assistant, therapy, occupational-therapy, and audiology programs.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "North Carolina Department of Justice", "Jeff Jackson", "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "RISE rule" ], "parties": [ "north-carolina-department-of-justice", "jeff-jackson", "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "rise-rule" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-jeff-jackson-sues-to-protect-funding-for-nurses-and-other-healthcare-workers/", "outlet": "North Carolina Department of Justice", "published": "2026-05-19", "quote": "“What Congress didn’t do was change the pre-existing definition of professional degrees.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 525, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n525", "date": "2026-04-30", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Final RISE rule released, effective July 1 without the usual November-1 master-calendar wait", "summary": "The department published its final rule (in the Federal Register on May 1) eliminating Grad PLUS, setting the graduate and professional loan limits, creating the Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard plan and sunsetting the legacy plans. It asserted that Congress's explicit July 1, 2026 effective date overrode the Higher Education Act's master-calendar rule, a position lawyers flagged as a litigation risk.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-finalizes-landmark-rule-lower-college-costs-and-simplify-student-loan-repayment", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-04-30", "quote": "Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released a final rule that will lower the cost of college and make student loan repayment easier, an important step toward implementing historic reforms contained in President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act (the Act). Beginning this summer, the Department will implement commonsense loan limits on how much students and parents can borrow, simplify the current patchwork of repayment options, establish a new, congressionally authorized income-driven repayment plan, and enforce other protections for students, families, borrowers, and taxpayers." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 524, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n524", "date": "2026-03-27", "date_precision": "day", "title": "7.5 million SAVE borrowers told to leave: 90-day windows from July 1, then automatic Standard-plan enrollment", "summary": "After the court entered final judgment, the department began sending guidance to every SAVE enrollee. From July 1 servicers would issue notices giving borrowers 90 days to choose a legal plan, including the new Repayment Assistance Plan; anyone who did not act would be placed in the Standard or Tiered Standard plan, typically with higher payments than an income-driven option.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent", "Federal Student Aid", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent", "federal-student-aid", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-next-steps-borrowers-enrolled-unlawful-save-plan", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-03-27", "quote": "Starting on July 1, federal loan servicers will begin issuing notices to borrowers, instructing them to exit the illegal SAVE Plan and enroll in a legal repayment plan within 90 days. Borrowers who do not transition plans within the 90-day period communicated by their servicer will be automatically enrolled into either the Standard Repayment Plan, or the new Tiered Standard Plan that will be available beginning July 1." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 523, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n523", "date": "2026-03-19", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Treasury takes over defaulted-loan collections under the Federal Student Assistance Partnership", "summary": "Secretaries McMahon and Scott Bessent announced an interagency agreement moving operational responsibility for the $1.7 trillion portfolio to Treasury in phases, starting with collections on defaulted loans and support for returning borrowers to repayment, with non-defaulted loans and other FSA functions to follow 'to the extent practicable and permitted by law'. The department said fewer than 40 percent of borrowers were in repayment and almost 25 percent were in default.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "Linda McMahon", "Scott Bessent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "us-department-of-the-treasury", "linda-mcmahon", "scott-bessent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-and-us-department-of-treasury-announce-historic-federal-student-assistance-partnership", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-03-19", "quote": "Under the new interagency agreement, Treasury will assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to ED’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. In subsequent phases, Treasury will work to provide operational support over non-defaulted Federal student loan debt, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, while also seeking opportunities to provide operational support to FSA’s other functions." }, { "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0419", "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "published": "2026-03-19", "quote": "The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) today announced the Federal Student Assistance Partnership to enhance the administration of Federal student aid programs, mitigate the continuing fallout and cost to taxpayers from the Biden Administration’s mismanagement of the Federal student loan portfolio, and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 529, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n529", "date": "2026-03-13", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Federal Student Aid updates portfolio reports through December 2025", "summary": "Federal Student Aid released updated portfolio reports containing data through December 31, 2025. The reports showed 7.7 million federally held loan recipients in default, more than 6.5 million borrowers in SAVE forbearance, and nearly 12.9 million borrowers enrolled in IDR plans.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "Federal Student Aid", "U.S. Department of Education", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "federal-student-aid", "us-department-of-education", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-03-13/federal-student-aid-posts-updated-reports-fsa-data-center", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid", "published": "2026-03-13", "quote": "“This update refreshes more than 70 quarterly application, disbursement, and loan portfolio reports to include data through Dec. 31, 2025.”" } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 522, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n522", "date": "2026-03-09", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Eighth Circuit reverses the dismissal and orders final judgment ending SAVE", "summary": "A three-judge Eighth Circuit panel reversed Judge Ross and directed the district court to enter the final judgment the department and Missouri had jointly requested, vacating nearly all of the SAVE rule. The department said guidance for SAVE borrowers would follow within weeks.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit", "John Ross", "U.S. Department of Education", "Missouri", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-court-of-appeals-for-the-eighth-circuit", "john-ross", "us-department-of-education", "missouri", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/38400/Federal_Appeals_Court_Reverses_SAVE_Dismissal_Advancing_ED_and_Missouri_s_Settlement", "outlet": "NASFAA", "published": "2026-03-11", "quote": "However, on Monday, a three-judge panel for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Ross’s dismissal, directing the district court to enter a final judgment on ED and Missouri’s settlement." }, { "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/save-plan-for-student-loan-borrowers-is-over-federal-appeals-court-.html", "outlet": "CNBC", "published": "2026-03-10", "quote": "In a judgment issued late Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit reversed a lower court's dismissal of a Republican-led legal challenge against SAVE." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 521, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n521", "date": "2026-02-27", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Judge Ross throws out the SAVE case rather than bless the settlement", "summary": "Judge John Ross of the Eastern District of Missouri dismissed the lawsuit and the proposed settlement, finding no live controversy because both sides now wanted SAVE gone and Congress had already scheduled its end for July 1, 2028. The order neither revived nor struck down SAVE, leaving seven million enrollees in limbo and prompting a separate borrower suit demanding the plan be implemented.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "John Ross", "U.S. Department of Education", "Missouri", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "john-ross", "us-department-of-education", "missouri", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/38324/Court_Dismisses_ED_s_SAVE_Settlement_Leaving_More_Questions_for_Borrowers", "outlet": "NASFAA", "published": "2026-03-02", "quote": "On Friday, in a court order, Judge John Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri dismissed this settlement, arguing that there is “no longer a live case or controversy sufficient,” therefore, the court doesn’t have authority to enter a judgment." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 520, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n520", "date": "2026-02-18", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Nonpayment data: more than 1,800 colleges have a quarter or more of borrowers not paying", "summary": "Alongside new default-management guidance, the department published updated institution-level nonpayment rates as an early warning for cohort default rates, which can cost a school its access to federal aid at 30 percent for three years or 40 percent in one. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said institutions 'cannot benefit from taxpayer dollars while ignoring' the numbers.", "type": "report", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-urges-institutions-of-higher-education-implement-best-practices-reduce-default-rates", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-02-18", "quote": "The Department also released updated nonpayment rates by institution, which may serve as an early indicator of whether a college or university may be at risk of failing the CDR measure. The new data show that over 1,800 institutions have nonpayment rates at or exceeding 25 percent." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 519, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n519", "date": "2026-01-29", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Proposed rule published: loan caps, program-level limits and the two new repayment plans", "summary": "The department issued its notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the law, with a 30-day comment window. Beyond the statutory caps it proposed letting colleges set program-level loan limits below the statutory maximums, and it carried the RISE committee's narrow professional-degree definition. The department later said it received 80,793 comments.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-make-higher-education-more-affordable-and-simplify-student-loan-repayment", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-01-29", "quote": "The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at reducing the cost of higher education and simplifying federal student loan repayment, as outlined in President Trump’s historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act (the Act)." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 518, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n518", "date": "2026-01-16", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Wage garnishment and Treasury offsets delayed weeks after the first notices were due", "summary": "Having told defaulted borrowers in December that garnishment notices would start the week of January 7, the department reversed course and delayed all involuntary collection, both Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program, saying the new law's repayment plan and second-chance rehabilitation should be in place first. The delay ran into tax-refund season and was not given an end date.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent", "U.S. Department of the Treasury" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent", "us-department-of-the-treasury" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-delays-involuntary-collections-amid-ongoing-student-loan-repayment-improvements", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2026-01-16", "quote": "The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today announced that it will delay the implementation of involuntary collections on federal student loans, including Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) and the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). The temporary delay will enable the Department to implement major student loan repayment reforms under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (the Act) to give borrowers more options to repay their loans." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 546, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n546", "date": "2025-12-23", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Wage garnishment to begin the week of January 7 for the first time since 2020", "summary": "The department told reporters it would start administrative wage garnishment on defaulted borrowers in early January 2026, with notices to a first group of about 1,000 borrowers and more each month, allowing up to 15 percent of disposable pay to be withheld after a 30-day notice. Borrower advocates called the decision cruel while nearly a million income-driven repayment applications sat unprocessed.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Protect Borrowers", "Persis Yu" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "protect-borrowers", "persis-yu" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://protectborrowers.org/trump-admin-decision-to-garnish-wages-from-defaulted-student-loan-borrowers-is-cruel-unnecessary-and-irresponsible/", "outlet": "Protect Borrowers", "published": "2025-12-23", "quote": "Beginning the week of January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) plans to start garnishing wages from student loan borrowers in default. This will be the first time that borrowers in default are subject to losing their pay over student loans since the COVID-19 pandemic—approximately five years." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 517, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n517", "date": "2025-12-09", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Department and Missouri agree to end SAVE outright", "summary": "Rather than litigate to judgment, the department and Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway proposed a joint settlement under which the department would enroll no new borrowers in SAVE, deny pending applications and move all enrollees into other plans. The department put SAVE's ten-year cost at more than $342 billion and said more than seven million borrowers were still in the forbearance.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Missouri", "Nicholas Kent", "Catherine Hanaway", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "missouri", "nicholas-kent", "catherine-hanaway", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-agreement-missouri-end-biden-administrations-illegal-save-plan", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-12-09", "quote": "As part of the proposed joint settlement agreement, the Department will not enroll any new borrowers in the illegal SAVE Plan, deny any pending applications, and move all SAVE borrowers into legal repayment plans." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 516, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n516", "date": "2025-11-06", "date_precision": "day", "title": "RISE negotiators reach consensus on the whole loan package, including who counts as a 'professional' student", "summary": "The RISE committee agreed on all 17 regulatory provisions implementing the law's loan changes: eliminating Grad PLUS, capping Parent PLUS, sunsetting the older repayment plans and creating the Repayment Assistance Plan. It also adopted a definition of professional degree drawn from existing regulatory text, the provision that would later be challenged in court.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-concludes-negotiated-rulemaking-session-implement-one-big-beautiful-bill-acts-loan-provisions", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-11-06", "quote": "Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) concluded its negotiated rulemaking session, where the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee reached consensus on the entire package of federal student loan-related changes advanced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 515, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n515", "date": "2025-10-30", "date_precision": "day", "title": "PSLF final rule lets the Secretary disqualify employers with a 'substantial illegal purpose'", "summary": "The department finalized a rule, effective July 1, 2026, amending the definition of a qualifying Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer to exclude organizations it finds engage in illegal activity such as supporting terrorism, aiding illegal immigration or providing gender-transition care to minors. It followed Executive Order 14235 of March 7, 2025, a July negotiated rulemaking and nearly 14,000 public comments.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Nicholas Kent", "Donald Trump" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "nicholas-kent", "donald-trump" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-final-rule-public-service-loan-forgiveness-protect-american-taxpayers", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-10-30", "quote": "The final rule amends the definition of “qualifying employer” to exclude organizations that engage in unlawful activities such that they have a substantial illegal purpose, including supporting terrorism and aiding and abetting illegal immigration." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 514, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n514", "date": "2025-10-17", "date_precision": "day", "title": "AFT settlement: court-supervised processing of the IDR backlog and a shield from the 2026 tax bill", "summary": "In a joint status report in AFT v. U.S. Department of Education, the department agreed to keep processing IBR, PAYE and ICR applications and PSLF buyback requests, to stop denying IBR for lack of a partial financial hardship, to refund payments made after a borrower qualified for discharge, and to date discharges to when eligibility was reached so that borrowers delayed into 2026 would not owe federal tax when the American Rescue Plan exemption expired.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "American Federation of Teachers", "U.S. Department of Education", "Randi Weingarten", "Protect Borrowers" ], "parties": [ "american-federation-of-teachers", "us-department-of-education", "randi-weingarten", "protect-borrowers" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.aft.org/press-release/following-lawsuit-aft-trump-administration-agrees-deliver-student-debt-relief-and", "outlet": "American Federation of Teachers", "published": "2025-10-17", "quote": "Today, the parties in AFT v. U.S. Department of Education filed a joint status report in federal court agreeing to a series of actions that will protect borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and deliver student debt relief to borrowers making payments under those plans for decades, as required by federal law." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 513, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n513", "date": "2025-10-06", "date_precision": "day", "title": "IBR loan forgiveness resumes after a summer pause", "summary": "Servicers and borrower advocates confirmed to CNBC that discharges under Income-Based Repayment, which the department had paused in July while it 'responded to court orders', had restarted for borrowers who reached 20 or 25 years of payments. IBR is the one income-driven plan whose forgiveness is written into statute, which made the pause especially contentious.", "type": "other", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Student Loan Servicing Alliance", "Protect Borrowers" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "student-loan-servicing-alliance", "protect-borrowers" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/06/student-loan-forgiveness-for-ibr-resumes.html", "outlet": "CNBC", "published": "2025-10-06", "quote": "The Trump administration has resumed forgiving student debt for some borrowers enrolled in a program that's been partially paused since July, a trade group told CNBC." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 512, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n512", "date": "2025-07-24", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Department sets up the RISE committee to write the new law's loan rules", "summary": "The Office of Postsecondary Education announced negotiated rulemaking to implement the law, with a Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee to handle loan provisions in five-day sessions in September and November and a separate AHEAD committee for Workforce Pell and accountability. A public hearing was set for August 7.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "James Bergeron" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "james-bergeron" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-negotiated-rulemaking-implement-president-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-07-24", "quote": "The Department will create a Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee to address federal student loan-related changes. The RISE Committee will have five-day sessions in September and November." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 511, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n511", "date": "2025-07-09", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Interest to restart August 1 for 7.7 million SAVE borrowers still in forbearance", "summary": "Citing the injunction, the department said loans in the SAVE forbearance would begin accruing interest again on August 1, 2025, though payments would still not be due, and that it would start direct outreach the next day urging the nearly 7.7 million enrollees to move to a plan such as IBR. Interest was not charged retroactively for the year the loans had sat at zero percent.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-continues-improve-federal-student-loan-repayment-options-addresses-illegal-biden-administration-actions", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-07-09", "quote": "Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will take an additional step to bring fiscal responsibility to the federal student loan portfolio by restarting interest accrual for borrowers with loans in the illegal Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan on August 1, 2025." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 510, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n510", "date": "2025-07-04", "date_precision": "day", "title": "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act rewrites federal student lending: RAP, loan caps, Grad PLUS ends", "summary": "President Trump signed the reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21, later rebranded by the administration as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act). For student loans it created the Repayment Assistance Plan and a Tiered Standard plan, ended Grad PLUS for new borrowers and capped graduate ($20,500 a year, $100,000 total), professional ($50,000, $200,000) and Parent PLUS borrowing from July 1, 2026, sunset SAVE, PAYE and ICR by July 1, 2028, and allowed a second loan rehabilitation. Some provisions, such as dropping IBR's partial-financial-hardship test, took effect immediately.", "type": "regulatory", "entities": [ "Donald Trump", "U.S. Congress", "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid" ], "parties": [ "donald-trump", "us-congress", "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/dear-colleague-letters/2025-07-18/federal-student-loan-program-provisions-effective-upon-enactment-under-one-big-beautiful-bill-act", "outlet": "Federal Student Aid (Dear Colleague Letter GEN-25-04)", "published": "2025-07-18", "quote": "On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) (OBBB) into law. The OBBB contains numerous provisions that amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and impact the administration of Title IV, HEA programs. Many of the changes under the OBBB will be implemented on July 1, 2026 and over the subsequent years." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 509, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n509", "date": "2025-05-05", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Involuntary collections begin: 195,000 Treasury offset notices, garnishment warnings to 5.3 million", "summary": "On the day collections resumed, Treasury started sending 30-day notices to about 195,000 defaulted borrowers that their federal benefits, including Social Security payments and tax refunds, would be offset, with the first offsets hitting June checks. The department said all 5.3 million defaulted borrowers would be told later in the summer that their wages could be garnished, and sent colleges a Dear Colleague letter warning about cohort default rates.", "type": "other", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "Linda McMahon" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "us-department-of-the-treasury", "linda-mcmahon" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-reminds-colleges-and-universities-of-their-obligations-help-struggling-borrowers", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-05-05", "quote": "Starting today, approximately 195,000 defaulted student loan borrowers will begin receiving an official 30-day notice from the U.S. Department of Treasury notifying them that their federal benefits will be subjected to the Treasury Offset Program. The first monthly benefit checks subject to offset are those scheduled for early June. Later this summer, all 5.3 million defaulted borrowers will receive a notice from Treasury that their earnings will be subject to administrative wage garnishment." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 508, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n508", "date": "2025-04-21", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Collections on defaulted loans to restart May 5 for the first time since March 2020", "summary": "Secretary Linda McMahon announced that Federal Student Aid would resume collecting on the defaulted portfolio on May 5, 2025, through the Treasury Offset Program and later wage garnishment. The department said 42.7 million borrowers owed more than $1.6 trillion, more than five million were in default, four million more were in late-stage delinquency, and only 38 percent of borrowers were current on their loans.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Linda McMahon", "Federal Student Aid", "U.S. Department of the Treasury" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "linda-mcmahon", "federal-student-aid", "us-department-of-the-treasury" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-begin-federal-student-loan-collections-other-actions-help-borrowers-get-back-repayment", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-04-21", "quote": "The U.S. Department of Education today announced its Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will resume collections of its defaulted federal student loan portfolio on Monday, May 5th. The Department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 507, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n507", "date": "2025-03-26", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Revised IDR application reopens with IBR, PAYE and ICR, but not SAVE", "summary": "Federal Student Aid put a rewritten income-driven repayment and consolidation application back online about five weeks after taking it down to comply with the Eighth Circuit injunction. Borrowers could again apply for Income-Based Repayment, Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment, while SAVE stayed closed and the backlog of pending applications, then near two million, kept growing.", "type": "announcement", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "Federal Student Aid", "James Bergeron" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "federal-student-aid", "james-bergeron" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-opens-revised-income-driven-repayment-plan-and-loan-consolidation-applications-borrowers", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-03-26", "quote": "Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) reopened the online income-driven repayment (IDR) plan and loan consolidation applications for borrowers. The application was temporarily paused to comply with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals injunction issued last month, which directed the Department to cease implementation of the Biden Administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan and parts of other IDR plans." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 506, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n506", "date": "2025-03-18", "date_precision": "day", "title": "AFT sues the Education Department for taking down the income-driven repayment application", "summary": "The American Federation of Teachers filed AFT v. U.S. Department of Education in federal court in Washington, arguing that removing the IDR and consolidation forms and telling servicers to stop processing applications unlawfully cut millions of borrowers off from affordable payments and from progress toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The case became the vehicle for court-supervised commitments on the application backlog later in the year.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "American Federation of Teachers", "U.S. Department of Education", "Randi Weingarten", "Protect Borrowers" ], "parties": [ "american-federation-of-teachers", "us-department-of-education", "randi-weingarten", "protect-borrowers" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://protectborrowers.org/aft-sues-u-s-department-of-education-demands-justice-for-student-loan-borrowers-blocked-from-affordable-loan-payments/", "outlet": "Protect Borrowers", "published": "2025-03-19", "quote": "Last night, the 1.8 million-member AFT sued the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for effectively breaking the student loan system, denying borrowers’ access to affordable loan payments and blocking progress towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), in violation of federal law." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 505, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n505", "date": "2025-02-18", "date_precision": "day", "title": "Eighth Circuit orders the entire SAVE rule enjoined, and forgiveness under older plans with it", "summary": "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the preliminary injunction against SAVE and told the district court to broaden it to the whole rule plus the revived REPAYE forgiveness provisions, holding that the states were likely to prove the Secretary of Education cannot forgive loans at the end of an income-contingent repayment plan. The ruling put the legality of PAYE and ICR forgiveness in doubt too, and the department pulled the online income-driven repayment application a week later.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit", "Missouri", "U.S. Department of Education", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-court-of-appeals-for-the-eighth-circuit", "missouri", "us-department-of-education", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/24-2351/24-2351-2025-02-18.html", "outlet": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (via Justia)", "published": "2025-02-18", "quote": "In sum, we affirm the district court’s entry of a preliminary injunction and remand for further proceedings and with instructions to modify the preliminary injunction to enjoin the entire SAVE Rule as well as the hybrid rule." } ] }, { "timeline": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul", "id": 504, "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n504", "date": "2024-06", "date_precision": "month", "title": "Courts block parts of SAVE and borrowers are parked in a zero-interest forbearance", "summary": "Republican-led states sued over the Biden administration's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, and in June 2024 federal courts in Kansas and Missouri blocked parts of it. The Education Department responded by putting the roughly eight million SAVE enrollees into an administrative forbearance with no payments due and no interest, a limbo that would last for two years.", "type": "legal", "entities": [ "U.S. Department of Education", "SAVE Plan" ], "parties": [ "us-department-of-education", "save-plan" ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-continues-improve-federal-student-loan-repayment-options-addresses-illegal-biden-administration-actions", "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education", "published": "2025-07-09", "quote": "In June 2024, a federal court blocked parts of the SAVE Plan. As a result, borrowers enrolled had their federal student loans placed in forbearance with a zero percent interest rate." } ] } ], "often_with": [ { "id": "donald-trump", "name": "Donald Trump", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/donald-trump", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/donald-trump.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "us-department-of-the-treasury", "name": "U.S. Department of the Treasury", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/us-department-of-the-treasury", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/us-department-of-the-treasury.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "anna-grunseth", "name": "Anna Grunseth", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/anna-grunseth", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/anna-grunseth.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "elizabeth-robeson", "name": "Elizabeth Robeson", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/elizabeth-robeson", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/elizabeth-robeson.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "heather-havens", "name": "Heather Havens", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/heather-havens", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/heather-havens.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "linda-mcmahon", "name": "Linda McMahon", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/linda-mcmahon", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/linda-mcmahon.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "nicholas-kent", "name": "Nicholas Kent", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/nicholas-kent", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/nicholas-kent.json", "shared_timelines": 1 }, { "id": "scott-bessent", "name": "Scott Bessent", "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/scott-bessent", "json": "https://whatledto.com/who/scott-bessent.json", "shared_timelines": 1 } ], "license": { "holder": "What Led To", "terms": "https://whatledto.com/methodology#reuse", "summary": "Quote entries with attribution and a link to the entry; do not republish whole timelines or train models on the text." } }