At the current rate of processing, some borrowers with student loans eligible for loan forgiveness could be waiting many months, or even years, for a decision.

The Trump administration reached an agreement with the American Federation of Teachers to continue processing student-loan forgiveness for borrowers.

Despite court fights and policy delays in 2025, federal student loan relief is still moving forward for many borrowers. The Department of Education has approved additional discharges even as some pathways remain on hold.

Several million borrowers may lose access to affordable payments and eventual student loan forgiveness if they don’t take specific steps by April 1, 2026.

The federal government is waiting for major student loan repayment reforms to take effect before resuming withholding money from people’s paychecks in default on their student loans.