THE Biden administration withdrew two major plans to grant student loan forgiveness.

The proposed regulations would have allowed the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education to cancel student loans For several groups of borrowersincluding those who have been repaying for decades and others experiencing financial difficulties.

The combined policies could have reduced or eliminated education debt for millions of Americans.

The Ministry of Education has published notices in the Federal Register Friday, he withdrew his projects, a few weeks before the election of the president Donald Trump enters the White House.

The ministry wrote that it was terminating the regulatory process due to “operational challenges in implementing the proposals.” He said he would “dedicate his limited operational resources” during these final weeks of the administration “to helping at-risk borrowers successfully return to repayment.”

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The Biden administration knew that proposals for widespread student loan forgiveness would have been thwarted by the Trump administration,” said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

Trump is a vocal critic of student loan forgiveness, and on the campaign trail he called the president That of Joe Biden efforts »vile» and “not even legal”.

Biden’s latest plans became known as a sort of “Plan B” after the Supreme Court in June 2023 struck its first major effort to erase people’s student loans.

Consumer advocates have expressed disappointment and concern over the reversal on debt relief.

“President Biden’s proposals would have freed millions of people from the crushing weight of the student debt crisis and unleashed economic mobility for millions more workers and families,” said Persis Yu, deputy executive director and general counsel of the Student Borrower Protection Center, in a statement.

Student loan forgiveness is still available

“There are so many borrowers concerned about the impact of the new administration on their student loans,” said Elaine Rubindirector of corporate communications at Edvisors, which helps students manage college costs and borrowing.

For now, the Department of Education still offers a wide range of student loan forgiveness programs, including Public service loan forgiveness And Teacher Loan Forgivenessstressed the experts.

PSLF allows certain nonprofit and government employees to have their federal student loans repaid after 10 years of on-time payments. Under TLF, those who teach full-time for five consecutive academic years at a low-income school or educational service agency may be eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $17,500.

The Biden administration announcement Friday that he would forgive an additional $4.28 billion in student debt for 54,900 borrowers who work in the public service through the PSLF.

“Many borrowers are particularly concerned about the future of the PSLF program, which is written into law,” Rubin said. “Its elimination would require an act of Congress. »

HAS Student Aid.govborrowers can seek more federal relief options that remain available.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Student Loan Advisors has a database of student loan forgiveness programs by state.