Millions of student loan borrowers across the country await the swearing-in of a Congress and president who have been resistant to forgiveness.
Currently, over 42.6 million Americans hold over $1.7 trillion in federal student loan debt. That's according to a recent report by the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC), which analyzed data from the Department of Education, the Census Bureau, and the New York Fed. The data was compiled before the White House's most recent round of relief, which discharged $4.23 billion for 150,000 borrowers Monday.
The recently released data from the student borrower advocacy group showed that California had the most borrowers, at 4 million.
Although the Biden Administration has now forgiven a total of $183.6 billion in loans for more than 5 million borrowers, millions still hold debt and rely on repayment plans for cheaper monthly payments.
As the new administration prepares to enter the White House, borrowers are concerned about the future of forgiveness plans and repayment plans.
The SPBC found that nearly 6.8 million borrowers are still in the Saving for a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. These borrowers, who once received more generous monthly payment terms and forgiveness under the SAVE plan, are still in forbearance as the repayment plan is still suspended in ongoing lawsuits. If the new administration does not protect it in court, the plan could be abandoned.
In addition, the SBPC said legislative proposals by the incoming majority-conservative Congress, which would cut "critical protections for student loan borrowers," could increase monthly student loan payments. Republican leaders have been critical of Biden's SAVE and other forgiveness programs, as they would increase the federal budget and tax costs for other Americans.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.