Millions of Student Loan Borrowers Are in Limbo

The Education Department says payment plan applications could be back online as soon as next week.

Student loan overpayments

Chris Radburn/AP

Millions of borrowers – and the federal government – are in limbo after a court ruling limited the Department of Education’s authority to forgive student loans.

Weeks after the circuit court essentially rendered illegal all income-contingent repayment programs that offer some loan forgiveness, it’s still unclear what will become of a number of the Education Department’s loan repayment programs and of the borrowers who signed up for them.

President Donald Trump’s expected move to unravel the Department of Education entirely only further complicates that future.