Story perspectives

Over 800,000 Student Loan Requests Backlogged as 2026 Approaches

1/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

As of January 2026, over 800,000 federal student loan holders are in a backlog for affordable repayment plans and debt forgiveness.
The U.S. Department of Education reported 734,221 pending requests for income-driven repayment plans and 83,370 for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback applications.
Borrowers, including librarian Katy Punch, have waited over a year for decisions.
In December 2025, the Education Department received 258,465 new IDR requests and 5,090 buyback applications.
The Trump administration has made progress in reducing the backlog but faces legal challenges from the American Federation of Teachers regarding borrowers' rights.

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Story summary

As of January 2026, over 800,000 federal student loan holders are in a backlog for affordable repayment plans and debt forgiveness.
The U.S. Department of Education reported 734,221 pending requests for income-driven repayment plans and 83,370 for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback applications.
Borrowers, including librarian Katy Punch, have waited over a year for decisions.
In December 2025, the Education Department received 258,465 new IDR requests and 5,090 buyback applications.
The Trump administration has made progress in reducing the backlog but faces legal challenges from the American Federation of Teachers regarding borrowers' rights.