Overview
The Department of Education has temporarily halted the updating and visibility of payment counts for student loan forgiveness under Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, impacting borrowers’ ability to track and receive forgiveness. The issue follows mass layoffs, system backlogs, and major policy changes under the Trump administration, leaving millions of borrowers facing uncertainty.
IDR Forgiveness Tracking and Updates
- Department of Education removed the IDR payment count tracker from StudentAid.gov in spring 2025.
- The tracker was initially launched in January 2025 to help borrowers monitor progress toward forgiveness.
- Removal was attributed to technical issues and a court ruling questioning the legality of certain forgiveness plans not created by Congress (ICR, PAYE, SAVE).
- Forgiveness under the IBR plan remains available, and payments on the paused plans can count toward IBR if the borrower switches.
- Secretary of Education promised to restore the IDR tracker, but it is still unavailable or not updating for many.
PSLF Forgiveness Tracking and Issues
- The PSLF tracker remains on StudentAid.gov, but payment counts are not updating reliably.
- Borrowers report missing payment counts, suggesting ongoing data lag and system issues despite submitting required forms.
- Some users report long delays or lack of updates even after employment certification submissions.
Impact of Layoffs and System Backlogs
- Mass layoffs (Reduction in Force) in spring 2025 cut about 50% of Department staff, affecting both data processing and issue resolution.
- Technical errors between federal databases and the PSLF certification system have remained unaddressed due to staff reassignment.
- Backlog of application processing for IDR and PSLF forgiveness has grown, with an estimated 1.5 million IDR applications pending.
- The PSLF Buyback program also faces a growing backlog, with tens of thousands of cases waiting for decision.
Legislative and Policy Changes
- President Trump signed legislation repealing several IDR options (including SAVE), requiring millions to switch plans in 2026.
- PSLF is preserved but faces operational challenges; loss of some IDR plans may increase monthly payments for many borrowers.
- Ongoing system dysfunction and further policy changes risk additional disruption for borrowers.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Unclear timeline for restoring or reliably updating IDR and PSLF payment trackers.
- Ongoing uncertainty regarding when eligible borrowers will have forgiveness processed, especially under IBR.
- No detailed public guidance from the Department about resolution of technical or staffing issues.