Education Department says that a subset of federal student loans owned by private lenders no longer qualify for relief.
By Michael Stratford, Politico
The Biden administration is scaling back its debt relief program for millions of Americans over concerns about legal challenges from the student loan industry as well as a new lawsuit from Republican-led states.
In a reversal, the Education Department said on Thursday it would no longer allow borrowers who have federal student loans that are owned by private entities to qualify for the relief program. The administration had previously said those borrowers would have a path to receive up to $10,000 or $20,000 of loan forgiveness.

The policy change comes as the Biden administration this week faces its first major legal challenges to the loan forgiveness program, which Republicans have railed against as an illegal use of executive power that is too costly for taxpayers.
On Thursday, a group of six GOP attorneys general sued to block loan forgiveness. The states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Carolina asked a federal judge to strike down the debt cancellation program, arguing that it’s illegal and unconstitutional.
The student loans that are guaranteed by the federal government but held by private entities account for a relatively small, and shrinking, subset of all outstanding federal student debt. They comprise just several million of the roughly 45 million Americans with federal student loans.
Recent Posts
Trump’s Back-and-Forth Threats on Iran Are Psychological Warfare
January 31, 2026
Take Action NowAs Trump threatens Iran yet again, Congress continues to abdicate its responsibility to rein in war.By Hanieh Jodat, Truthout As…
U.S. Media Keen on Iranian Unrest—Less So on U.S. and Israel’s Role in It
January 30, 2026
Take Action Now Democrats have a rare moment of leverage to pass legislation ending qualified immunity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
The Senate Must Not Fund ICE, A Zero Hour Conversation With Sonali Kolhatkar
January 30, 2026
Take Action Now “We’ve seen a really sharp change in how the public views immigration enforcement, particularly ice, to the point where…
How Democrats Can End Qualified Immunity for ICE Agents
January 28, 2026
Take Action Now Democrats have a rare moment of leverage to pass legislation ending qualified immunity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement…



