U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness Title: 34 CFR Part 685 – William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Sections: §§ 685.211, 685.219, 685.220 Rescission: Rescind recent changes that limit or complicate eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness. Simplify eligibility rules to ensure that all qualifying payments are counted, loan types are standardized, and borrower eligibility is clearly defined. FFEL Borrowers and IDR Forgiveness Title: 34 CFR Part 682 – Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Rescission: Rescind restrictions that exclude FFEL borrowers from Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness. Extend eligibility to FFEL borrowers, ensuring equal treatment with Direct Loan borrowers under the same forgiveness criteria. Borrower Eligibility, Loan Types, and Service Requirements Title: 34 CFR Part 668 – Student Assistance General Provisions Sections: §§ 668.32, 668.34, 668.36 Rescission: Rescind recent eligibility restrictions and service requirements that create unnecessary barriers for borrowers in accessing student loan forgiveness programs. Simplify borrower qualifications and remove complex service requirements, allowing equitable access to forgiveness and better tracking of borrower progress. Curriculum Standards and Inclusivity in Education Title: 34 CFR Part 200 – Title I, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged Rescission: Rescind regulatory changes that limit or politicize the teaching of race, identity, social justice, and scientific topics (e.g., climate change, public health). Restore inclusive, evidence-based curriculum standards that ensure racial equity and critical science education are taught comprehensively and reflect diverse perspectives, free from political interference. Federal Funding for Science and Racial Equity Programs Title: 34 CFR Part 75 – Direct Grant Programs Rescission: Rescind changes that restrict federal funding for educational programs promoting racial equity, climate science, and public health education. Restore eligibility for comprehensive education programs that include science-based curricula and racial equity content, ensuring funding supports programs that promote academic integrity and inclusive teaching. State-Level Gag Rules on Race, Identity, and Systemic Inequality in State Curricula Rescission: Rescind state-level executive orders and regulations that impose gag rules on teaching race, identity, and systemic inequality in public school curricula. Restore educators’ autonomy to teach these critical topics without legal or administrative barriers, allowing open, fact-based discussions about historical and contemporary issues related to race and social justice.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment Barriers

Current federal loan forgiveness programs, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness, are hampered by bureaucratic barriers, limited eligibility criteria, and complex service requirements. These obstacles prevent qualified borrowers from obtaining the relief they deserve, particularly those in low-income or essential public service roles. Rescinding these barriers would expand access to debt cancellation, reduce financial hardship, and promote broader economic equity.

U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202

Federal Student Aid Information Center Phone: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) Email: studentaid@ed.gov

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, designed to cancel federal student loan debt for borrowers employed in public service careers, has faced numerous implementation challenges due to inconsistent service provider guidance, narrow eligibility rules, and a lack of borrower outreach. Additionally, income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness, which offers debt cancellation after 20-25 years of qualifying payments, is encumbered by complex, outdated rules that prevent many borrowers from meeting the program’s requirements. These issues have resulted in large numbers of borrowers being denied forgiveness despite fulfilling the intent of the programs. A 2021 Department of Education review revealed that nearly 90% of PSLF applicants had been denied due to technicalities related to payment counting, employer eligibility, and loan type.

Rescinding barriers to debt cancellation and expanding forgiveness eligibility will ensure that borrowers are treated equitably and can access the full benefits of federal student loan forgiveness programs. By simplifying eligibility, clarifying rules, and broadening the scope of qualifying payments, the federal government can promote financial well-being, reduce the burden of student debt, and encourage service in essential public sectors. Streamlining these processes will also help alleviate the growing national student debt crisis, foster social mobility, and allow borrowers to contribute more significantly to the economy.

PSLF: Borrowers in qualifying public service positions will no longer be subject to arbitrary limitations on their eligibility for forgiveness based on repayment plan choice, loan type, or employment verification. All payments made under any federal repayment plan will count toward forgiveness, and borrowers will have automatic eligibility checks for PSLF after each year of service. IDR Forgiveness: The time period required to qualify for forgiveness will be uniform across all income-driven plans, set to 20 years for undergraduate loans and 25 years for graduate loans. The process for tracking payments will be automated, and borrowers will receive regular updates on their progress toward forgiveness. Loan Types: FFEL borrowers will be immediately included in IDR forgiveness programs, and all existing federal loans will count toward forgiveness eligibility, even if the borrower previously consolidated their loans into a non-eligible loan type. Documentation Requirements: Employers of qualifying public service employees will only need to verify employment once per year, and automatic payment tracking systems will be implemented to minimize the burden on borrowers. Retroactive relief will be granted to those who have already made qualifying payments but were mistakenly excluded from forgiveness eligibility.

Linda E McMahon

Secretary of Education