Student Loan Repayment Woes Under Trump Administration;

Provo, Utah – Kelly Elizabeth Belt, a 33-year-old high school teacher, is struggling with her student loan repayments amid changing federal policies. Belt, like millions of American borrowers, has been trying to navigate the repayment landscape since the Trump administration took office, following the halting of debt relief measures implemented under former President Biden.

Belt has been on a repayment plan for nearly a year without being able to make payments. Federal courts halted Biden’s efforts to ease the burden on borrowers due to lawsuits from Republican states. In February, an appeals court blocked the plan entirely. When Belt attempted to switch to a different repayment plan in March, she encountered issues with the Education Department’s online application portal, which had been removed and then faced technical problems after being restored.

The new plan offered to Belt would have required her to make monthly payments of $608, three times more than her previous rate of $198—an amount she cannot afford on her public-school salary. President Trump has expressed opposition to Biden’s plan, describing it as “vile” during his campaign, and has begun to alter the existing system that supports over 42 million Americans collectively owing more than $1.6 trillion in student debt.

The Trump administration’s workforce cuts at the Education Department have exacerbated existing issues. Staff reductions have slowed the processing of applications for affordable repayment plans, leading to a backlog that grew from 1,494,792 to 1,985,726 between February and April. Advocates and officials attribute these difficulties to the Trump administration’s budget cuts.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education blamed the Biden administration for the backlog but noted that processing did not begin until three months after Trump’s inauguration. Additionally, the pandemic-era amnesty program allowing 5 million defaulted borrowers to pause payments was recently ended, requiring them to resume payments or face consequences such as wage garnishment.

In an effort to simplify repayment processes, Trump is pushing to eliminate low-cost repayment plans through legislation currently in the Senate. As the department faces complaints about income-driven repayment plans, many borrowers like Belt have found it increasingly challenging to obtain help. The department has removed certain support functions, complicating the process further.

Belt’s mother-in-law, Lesa Sandberg, shared her concerns, describing Trump’s administration as betraying borrowers who chose public service careers under the assumption that affordable repayment options would be available. Sandberg, a long-time Trump supporter, said the administration’s approach leaves many borrowers struggling to manage their debt obligations.

Others, like 64-year-old Tammy Sabens from Kentucky, have expressed similar frustrations. After taking out a loan for nursing school, Sabens now faces a final balance of nearly $52,000 due to accrued interest, significantly impacting her health and financial well-being. She regrets her vote for Trump, feeling recent policies have complicated her loan situation.

As complaints accumulate and processing delays worsen, individuals like Belt and Sabens continue to wonder how they will navigate the complexities of student loan repayment going forward.