AFT Sues Education Dept. Over Loan Repayment Programs

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), representing 1.8 million members, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for halting affordable student loan repayment programs. The lawsuit claims this action violates federal law and effectively freezes the student loan system, impacting millions of borrowers who rely on income-driven repayment plans to manage their debt. AFT President Randi Weingarten criticized the Trump administration for dismantling the progress made in making higher education affordable and accessible. The Department of Education's actions follow a federal court injunction related to the Biden Administration's SAVE plan. The lawsuit, filed in Washington D.C., seeks to compel the Department to restore access to these crucial repayment programs. The Department has not indicated if or when the suspended programs will resume, leaving over 12 million borrowers without affordable repayment options.