(NewsNation) — President-elect Donald Trumpthe second term will undoubtedly be reshape the United Stateswith federal agencies like the The Ministry of Education on the chopping block.

Some of the biggest changes could come for the millions of Americans in student loan debt.

Student loan forgiveness was not a focus of Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaigns, although the topic was a mainstay of President Biden’s 2020 campaign and presidency.

The issue came up only once during the September presidential debate, when Trump criticized Harris and Biden for failing to deliver on their promise of a widespread pardon. Trump called it a “total disaster” that “taunted young people.”

What does the Ministry of National Education do?

But will Trump continue his efforts to reduce student debt? The president-elect never gave a clear answer on his stance on student loan forgiveness, but he and his allies have frequently criticized Biden’s efforts and celebrated his legal losses.

Following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling striking down Biden’s universal relief proposal, Trump said debt eradication “would have been very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid off their debt through hard work and diligence.”

Student debt policies proposed by Donald Trump

Student Loan Forgiveness was not a focus of the Trump campaign, and the president-elect did not lay out a hard and fast policy on debt relief.

However, his current positions on education — including a push to eliminate the DOE — could impact how student loans are made and payments are collected.

The DOE administers two major programs that help low-income students access higher education: Pell Grants and the Federal Student Loan Program.

• Pell Grants provide aid to students based on their family’s ability to pay. The maximum amount for a student in the 2024-25 school year is $7,395. In a typical year, Pell Grant Funding Totals About $30 Billion.

• The federal student loan program subsidizes students by offering more generous loan terms than they would get in the private lending market, including income-driven repayment plans, scheduled debt forgiveness, lower interest rates And deferred payments.

By abolishing the DOE, Trump said he hoped to eliminate “the radicals who have infiltrated the federal Department of Education and get Congress to reaffirm the president’s ability to fire recalcitrant employees.”

What does Project 2025 say about student loans?

While Trump has distanced himself from almost the entire Heritage project 1,000-page conservative policy handbook In the months leading up to the 2024 election, the organization has expressed fervent support for the Republican candidate and his positions.

Like Trump, Project 2025 calls for dismantling the DOE. The playbook also proposes ending the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and borrower defense programs, essentially placing college lending capabilities in the hands of private lenders.

Persis Yu, deputy executive director and legal counsel of the Student Borrower Protection Center, told CNBC many worry about “what kind of corporate interests will be protected versus the interests of borrowers and students.”

Did Donald Trump address the issue of student loans during his first administration?

During his first term, Trump attempted to cut funding for several education programs, including PSLF. Although the proposals did not pass at the time, the Republican Party now has complete control over Congress.

Yu told CNBC that the first Trump administration still found ways to block debt relief. About 99% of borrowers who applied for PSLF in 2019 were rejected, leading a massive teachers union to sue then-Secretary of Education. Betsy DeVos for mismanagement of the program and its funds.

What has Project 2025 said since Trump’s victory?

Some hope for relief under Trump.

“President Trump, even before he ran for president in 2015, asked questions like: ‘Why does the federal government view student loans as a profit center?’ This doesn’t make any sense. And he was right then. And I think if he stays true to his instincts, it will serve him well in the future,” Alan Collinge, founder of Student Loan Justice, told The Hill.

Collinge also praised Trump’s willingness to use executive orders on student loans, such as when he canceled the loans of 25,000 disabled veterans. Trump also used his executive power to suspend student loans during the pandemic.

“Trump is a bold man, and we are counting on him to be bold, honest and courageous,” he added.

What can Biden do about student debt?

As Trump prepares to return to the White House, supporters of student loan forgiveness hope for a president Joe Biden will repair on his plans to eradicate billions in debt.

Most of Biden’s current student loan measures are tied to the justice system or are scheduled to take effect in 2025. During his term, the sitting president has pardoned $175 billion for 5 million Americans in all 50 states.

“Now is the time for him, for the sake of his legacy, at least, to fulfill his long-standing promises,” Collinge said.

“I think one of the simplest things Biden can do is finalize the one-time account adjustment. “Many borrowers could still qualify for forgiveness through a one-time account adjustment, and they haven’t completed the final transaction yet, and this is something that has been going on for almost two years,” he said. added Student Debt Crisis Center President Natalia Abrams.

Ashley Soriano of NewsNation, The Associated Press and The Hill contributed to this report.

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