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☆ Millions of student-loan borrowers are waiting for broad debt cancellation. The next president won't have any immediate answers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Neither former President Trump nor VP Kamala Harris would be able to act on them imminently. Despite its inability to provide broad cancellation, Biden's Education Department has issued targeted relief that has given nearly 5 million borrowers debt cancellation to date. Constance, 65, has nearly $200,000 in student debt, an amount that's ballooned since she graduated from law school in 1994. "I would expect continued improvements and limited expansions of debt relief where legally possible under a Harris-Walz administration," Partridge said. Regardless of who wins the election, legal challenges to debt relief will keep borrowers in limbo.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, —, Donald Trump, Education James Kvaal, That's, it's, NORC, Biden, Constance, Constance —, It's, Sara Partridge, " Partridge, Kvaal, Partridge, Walz, Sen, Bill Cassidy Organizations: Service, GOP, Education Department, Biden's Education, Education, AP, Biden's Education Department, Public, American Progress Action, Trump, Republican, Senate

☆ A major student-loan company is once again at the center of a lawsuit blocking debt cancellation for millions of borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Even with the financial burden his student debt has brought him, Larry said he has tried to remain optimistic about the prospect of debt relief, given President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' actions during their term. Larry and millions of other student-loan borrowers will have to keep waiting. It's the same argument a different group of GOP states used that led the Supreme Court to strike down Biden's first attempt at broad debt relief last summer. Their arguments are based on internal documents the states obtained from the Education Department to federal student-loan servicers regarding preparation to implement its second try at broader debt relief. According to the documents, the Education Department sent a memo to MOHELA saying, "In September of 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration will launch the Federal Student Loan Debt Initiative."

Persons: missouri Larry, bachelor's, Larry —, —, Larry, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, I've, they've, I'm, Biden, Biden's, Luke Herrine, Herrine, Harris, Sen, Bill Cassidy, MOHELA, he's Organizations: Service, Business, Higher, University of Alabama, GOP, Department of Education, Education Department, Biden, Harris Administration, Federal, Loan, Initiative, Department, Republican Locations: missouri, Georgia's, Missouri, Missouri , Georgia, Alabama , Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio

☆ A millennial dad's $0 student-loan payments gave his family some breathing room. Then courts blocked Biden's repayment plan leaving 8 million borrowers like him in limbo.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Throughout his repayment, Pedrick has been on an income-driven repayment plan, which calculated his payments based on his five-figure salary. "And I was really thankful not to have to pay my student loan payments at that point." Earlier this year, two separate groups of attorneys general filed lawsuits to block the SAVE plan. The department is still carrying out account adjustments, during which it brings borrowers' payments up to date to bring them closer to relief. Are you concerned about the future of your student-loan payments?

Persons: Alan Pedrick, he's, Pedrick, Joe, He's, Biden, — Pedrick, Bill Cassidy, Biden's, Cassidy, Miguel Cardona, Cardona, it's, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, GOP, SAVE, forbearance, Education Department, Senate, Republican

☆ Student-loan borrowers are entering a new 'Wild West' where any form of debt relief is much less certain
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewLegal challenges against student-debt relief efforts continue, making the fate of millions of borrowers all the more uncertain. When it comes to higher education, the ruling will impose more barriers on regulations that are particularly controversial, like efforts to forgive student debt. The Education Department is working on finalizing its second attempt at a broader debt relief plan, which it hopes to implement this fall. But striking down Chevron could pose even more barriers to debt relief and many higher education regulations borrowers rely on. After the Supreme Court's Chevron ruling, Sen. Bill Cassidy — top Republican on the Senate education committee — sent a letter to Education Sec.

Persons: —, Chevron, Jon Fansmith, Fansmith, Joe Biden, haven't, It's, Neal Hutchens, Sen, Bill Cassidy —, Miguel Cardona, Cassidy, Hutchens Organizations: Service, Business, American Council, Education, Higher, Education Department, Chevron, of Educational Policy, University of Kentucky, Republican, Sec Locations: Chevron

☆ Key student-debt relief programs are at risk if Congress doesn't boost Education Department funding, 25 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren led a group of Democrats in pushing for increased Federal Student Aid funding. AdvertisementA group of Democratic lawmakers is pointing to one key thing that will help student-loan borrowers and families navigate financial aid: more funding. Advertisement"FSA's responsibilities have increased to protect students and borrowers, but its federal funding has remained stagnant," they wrote. AdvertisementWhen it comes to the FAFSA, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been highly critical of the way the Education Department has facilitated the rollout. The Education Department is also in the process of crafting its broader student-debt relief plan, which is currently in the public comment period.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, —, Massachusetts Sen, Tammy Baldwin, Shelley Moore Capito, Joe Biden's, Biden, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Cardona Organizations: Federal Student Aid, Service, Democratic, Massachusetts, Sens, Republicans, Business, Education Department, Public, Republican, Secretary

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia Senate committee is advancing a long-stalled proposal aimed at stopping private school teachers from talking to students about gender identity without parental permission, but both gay rights groups and some religious conservatives remain opposed to the bill. Liberal opponents say the measure, which goes to the full Senate for more debate, remains a thinly veiled attack on LGBTQ+ students. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesSome conservatives say the law is a flawed attempt to regulate private schools that unwisely introduces the concept of gender identity into state law. "They are proselytizing this queer sex sexuality ideology to children,” said Jeff Cleghorn, a former board member of Georgia Equality. Private schools that violate the law would be banned from getting state money provided by vouchers for children with special educational needs.

Persons: Bill, ”, Sen, Carden Summers, Jeff Graham, unwisely, don’t, Jeff Cleghorn, ” Graham, Clint Dixon, didn’t, Democratic Sen, Elena Parent, “, Jan Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Senate, Senate Education, Republican, Liberal, Georgia Equality, “, Buford Republican, Democratic, Atlanta, Public, Georgia High School Association Locations: Georgia

The state Supreme Court's brief order Tuesday shutting down the suit said legislators have fulfilled promises of annual increases in aid to the state's 286 local school districts as outlined in a 2019 law. But closing the case gives the Legislature more leeway on school funding issues in the short term. Educators who feel legislators aren't providing enough money or distributing it fairly enough were able to take their complaints directly to the state Supreme Court while the case was open. Four school districts sued the state in 2010, and the Supreme Court issued seven rulings from 2010 to 2019. The first six told lawmakers that they needed to increase spending or distribute the money more fairly or both.

Persons: backtracked, Vic Miller, Eric Rosen, ” Leah Fliter, Laura Kelly, Kelly, “, Dan Hawkins, Sen, Molly Baumgardner, Kris Kobach, Kobach, ” Kobach, Alan Rupe, ” Organizations: Republican, GOP, Republicans, Kansas House, Kansas Association of School, Democratic Gov, Wichita Republican Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, —, Wichita, Kansas City

☆ Why college applicants will have to wait months longer to find out how much financial aid they're getting this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The latest delay means financial aid awards might not come until April. AdvertisementThe sole application for receiving college financial aid has had a rocky rollout this year — and it means reward letters will be delayed by months. AdvertisementThe latest delay in receiving financial aid awards can be attributed to the department's efforts to update FAFSA qualifications to expand families' financial aid eligibility. However, that'll take time — and could leave some families in a time crunch when it comes to evaluating their financial aid packages. "Updating our calculations will help students qualify for as much financial aid as possible."

Persons: —, That's, they'll, that'll, Education James Kvaal, Justin Draeger, Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Burgess Owens, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Biden, Cassidy, Foxx, Richard Cordray Organizations: Education Department, Service, Federal Student Aid, Education, U.S . Department of Education, National Association of Student Financial, Republican, Secretary, Department, Office, Aid

☆ Elizabeth Warren says student-loan companies can't use lack of funding as an excuse for bad customer service — and she's 'deeply worried' they're not ready for repayment starting next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren led some Democratic colleagues in sending letters to four student-loan companies requesting information on the repayment restart. They also said a lack of funding is not a valid excuse for borrowers to be facing bad customer service. AdvertisementAdvertisementSenator Elizabeth Warren is worried that four federal student-loan companies aren't up to the task of transitioning millions of borrowers back into repayment in a few days. These letters come just days before pandemic relief for federal borrowers comes to an end. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Monday press briefing that it would further strain Federal Student Aid's ability to assist borrowers over the next month.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, —, Warren, — Sens, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Richard Blumenthal —, servicers, Joe Biden's, Virginia Foxx, Bill Cassidy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Pierre said Organizations: Democratic, Service, Federal Services, servicer, Central Research Inc, Education Department, — House Republicans, Federal Student Aid, Consumer Financial, Republican, Office, Department, House Press, Education

☆ 260,000 student-loan borrowers who were approved for debt relief might be pushed back into repayment anyway, a legacy advocacy group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Student-loan borrowers who were part of a 2022 settlement are still waiting for their relief to be processed. A legal advocacy group said a student-loan company is not carrying out the settlement terms correctly. It said some borrowers within the settlement were told they have to resume payments in October. The group said that forcing borrowers with pending borrower defense claims back into repayment "violates the court-approved Settlement Agreement and applicable regulations." The federal pause on student-loan payment ended on September 1 when interest began accruing again on borrowers' balances.

Persons: They're, Cardona —, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden's, it's, MOHELA, Scott Giles, servicers, Cardona, Virginia Foxx, Sen, Bill Cassidy —, —, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, Secretary Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Education Department, Donald Trump's Education Department, Department, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Democratic, New, Secretary, Public, The Education Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, Sweet v, New Jersey

☆ There's no proof that student-loan companies are prepared to bring millions of borrowers back into repayment in under 2 weeks, 2 top Republican lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Virginia Foxx and Sen. Bill Cassidy asked the GAO to investigate the student-loan payment resumption. They said they're concerned loan servicers are not adequately prepared to facilitate repayment. The student-loan payment pause officially ended on September 1 when interest began accruing again on federal borrowers' balances, and bills will start becoming due next month. Additionally, Cassidy and Foxx said that it is "unclear whether borrowers will begin repayments when billing statements resume. In other cases, there will be borrowers who will take some time to work student loans back into their household budgets."

Persons: Virginia Foxx, Sen, Bill Cassidy, they're, Bill Cassidy —, —, Foxx, Cassidy, servicers, Education James Kvaal, Kvaal Organizations: Service, Office, Education, Education Department, GAO, Public Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Republican lawmakers launch an effort to block student-loan borrowers from enrolling in Biden's new plan intended to lower monthly payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP lawmakers introduced a bill to overturn Biden's new SAVE income-driven repayment plan. Borrowers can now apply for the SAVE plan before bills become due next month. It also estimated that an additional 1 million low-income borrowers would experience that benefit, and the plan would save all other borrowers at $1,000 a year compared to other income-driven repayment plans. However, the Republican lawmakers seeking to overturn that plan argued it's an overreach of authority and would cost taxpayers. While Republicans opposed that relief, as well, Biden is moving forward with implementing the new repayment plan as borrowers begin to face another monthly bill.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Bill Cassidy, Sen, John Thune, John Cornyn, Cassidy, Biden, Lisa McClain, Miguel Cardona, we're Organizations: Service, Republican, GOP, Education Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington

☆ Jake Kleinmahon: One of Louisiana's only pediatric cardiologists has left the state over anti-LGBTQ legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Nicquel Terry Ellis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

courtesy Jake KleinmahonBut this past spring the Republican-led state legislature passed a series of controversial bills that targeted the LGBTQ community. Many of the laws enacted have been met with legal challenges from advocacy groups and LGBTQ families. In Louisiana, Kleinmahon said he lobbied against the laws, calling state lawmakers and writing letters to the state’s senate education committee. “It really showed that they just don’t care,” Kleinmahon told CNN. courtesy Katherine SasserThe challenge of movingBut relocating across the country hasn’t been an easy decision, LGBTQ families told CNN.

Persons: Jake Kleinmahon, Tom, ”, Kleinmahon, “, ” Kleinmahon, John Bel Edwards, Edwards, Terry Schilling, Schilling, ” Schilling, Tony Rothert, Rothert, ” Rothert, Cathryn Oakley, hasn’t, Oakley, ” Oakley, ” Katherine Sasser, Sasser, ” Sasser, Katherine Sasser Organizations: CNN, Tulane University, “, Mardi Gras, Republican, Human Rights, ” Louisiana Democratic Gov, HB, American Civil Liberties Union of, Columbia, University of Missouri Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, Missouri, Denver, Long, , New York

☆ Biden's student-debt relief plans will once again face GOP challenges when Congress returns this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Biden formally launched the new income-driven repayment plan, known as the SAVE plan. "Just like Biden's student debt transfer scheme, this IDR rule is deeply unfair to the 87 percent of Americans who currently have no student loans and will now have to foot the bill for someone else's debt." Spokespeople for both lawmakers confirmed to Insider that they will introduce bills in the House and Senate to overturn the SAVE plan. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that "Biden's SAVE plan helps Americans with student debt by capping interest growth and lowering monthly payments. In addition to repayment reforms for borrowers, the Education Department is also in the process of implementing broad debt relief again using the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Persons: Biden, Foxx, Cassidy, Joe Biden's, Virginia Foxx, Sen, Bill Cassidy —, —, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren Organizations: Service, Education Department, Politico, GOP, Senate, Higher Locations: Wall, Silicon, Massachusetts

☆ Federal student-loan balances will start growing again in one month when interest returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In October, student-loan borrowers will start making payments again. The Education Department announced a number of steps to ease the transition back into repayment. In March 2020, former President Donald Trump first implemented the student-loan payment pause, with waived interest, to give millions of federal borrowers financial relief during the pandemic. An Education Department spokesperson confirmed in June that there is no leeway with that provision. "Student loan interest will resume starting on September 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October," a department spokesperson said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, —, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, servicers, Virginia Foxx, Sen, Bill Cassidy —, doesn't, Cassidy, we'll, Miguel Cardona Organizations: The Education Department, Service, Federal, An Education Department, Education Department, Higher, SAVE, Democratic, House, Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, Massachusetts, New Jersey

☆ Biden isn't extending the student-loan payment pause — but borrowers might not have to immediately start repayment in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department finalized a three-month grace period after payments resume, per Politico. The Supreme Court will issue a decision on Biden's broad debt relief plan on Friday. In addition to the grace period, Politico also reported that the Education Department will unveil its new income-driven repayment plan in the coming weeks, with implementation soon after. The Education Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on its forthcoming plans. Amid the repayment debate, the most pressing issue for borrowers right now is whether the Supreme Court will uphold Biden's broad student-loan forgiveness.

Persons: It's, —, Joe Biden's, Biden, Biden's, Virginia Foxx, Foxx, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Education Department, Politico, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Republican, Department, Secretary, Democratic Locations: Alexandria, United States

☆ Biden's Education Department is 'ill prepared' to resume student-loan payments for millions of borrowers in 3 months, 2 GOP lawmakers say — and they're demanding 'proof' of a repayment strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Student-loan payments are set to resume in October. GOP Rep. Foxx and Sen. Cassidy asked the Education Department for its strategy on the resumption. They said they're concerned the department is "ill prepared" to transition borrowers back into repayment. Two Republican lawmakers want to know how the Education Department is preparing for that to happen. Since March 2020, federal student-loan payments — and interest — have been on pause to provide borrowers with financial relief during the pandemic.

Persons: Foxx, Sen, Cassidy, they're, —, Joe Biden's, Miguel Cardona, Biden, Virginia Foxx, Bill Cassidy, Cardona, Mr Organizations: GOP, Education Department, Service, Department, Politico, Federal Student

☆ 3 GOP lawmakers just introduced a plan for Congress to overturn Biden's student-loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

3 GOP lawmakers announced plans to overturn Biden's student-debt relief using the Congressional Review Act on Friday. The Act is an oversight tool Congress can use to overturn final rules put in place by federal agencies. The Education Department said Biden's student-debt relief should not be subject to that Act. Since Biden announced the broad debt relief plan in August, it ran into challenges not only by GOP lawmakers, but conservative-backed groups who filed lawsuits to block the plan. It will issue a decision on the legality of Biden's relief by June.

☆ 3 reasons student-loan borrowers could start taking on more debt once Biden's plan to lower monthly payments goes into effect
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biden released a plan in August to reform income-driven repayment plans for student-loan borrowers. It also projected the more generous plan would lead to increased borrowing given the lower cost to take on debt. While Democratic lawmakers lauded the proposed improvements to IDR plans, Republican lawmakers criticized the proposal, along with its potential cost. Insider has previously reported that Biden's IDR reforms could keep borrowers in the same repayment cycle if it isn't implemented properly. "Under current IDR plans, most borrowers can expect to repay some or all their debt," the analysis said.

☆ 69 Republican lawmakers call for Biden's student-loan repayment and forgiveness proposals to be 'rescinded,' blasting them as 'blatantly illegal' and 'a smack in the face of taxpayers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

69 GOP lawmakers urged Biden to withdraw his student-loan forgiveness and repayment proposals. They said his proposal to reform income-driven repayment plans is "blatantly illegal." This proposal is reckless, fiscally irresponsible, and blatantly illegal and, as such, it should be rescinded." "Under current IDR plans, most borrowers can expect to repay some or all their debt," the analysis said. "This proposal is reckless, illegal, and will saddle hardworking Americans and future generations with unsustainable debt."

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