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These 4 Student Loan Provisions Of The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' Take Effect Now
These 4 Student Loan Provisions Of The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' Take Effect Now

Forbes

time24-07-2025

  • Business
  • Forbes

These 4 Student Loan Provisions Of The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' Take Effect Now

US President Donald Trump holds up his signed signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts "Big ... More Beautiful Bill" on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on July 4, 2025. The bill includes major changes to federal student loan programs, some of which will take effect immediately. (Photo by Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images Several student loan provisions of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' – the massive reconciliation legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month – will go into effect immediately or very soon, according to the Department of Education. The bill makes unprecedented changes to the federal student loan system by repealing several popular income-driven repayment plans, creating a new repayment option, and cutting or eliminating certain federal student loan programs. While many of these changes will be phased in gradually over the course of the next one to three years, some of the reforms legally take immediate effect. And the department is working on speedy implementation. 'On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) (OBBB) into law,' said the department in a 'Dear Colleague' letter issued last Friday. 'The OBBB contains numerous provisions that amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and impact the administration of Title IV , HEA programs. Many of the changes under the OBBB will be implemented on July 1, 2026 and over the subsequent years. However, several changes made by the OBBB became effective upon enactment.' Here's a breakdown of the most immediate changes to federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs. One of the immediate changes to student loan programs under the Big, Beautiful Bill is the removal of the Partial Financial Hardship requirement, or PFH, for the Income-Based Repayment plan. IBR is the only current income-driven repayment plan that is preserved under the bill; ICR, PAYE, and the SAVE plan will eventually be repealed. But IBR has an enrollment barrier in the form of the PFH rule, which essentially prevents borrowers from accessing IBR if their income is too high. More specifically, it blocks IBR enrollment for borrowers if their calculated IBR payment would be higher than what they would otherwise pay under a 10-year Standard repayment plan. The removal of the PFH rule for IBR is immediate. However, it will take the Department of Education and its contracted loan servicers at least some time to update its systems to reflect the removal of the PFH requirement. 'The OBBB eliminates the requirement that borrowers have a partial financial hardship to qualify for enrollment in an income-based repayment (IBR) plan authorized under section 493C of the HEA,' says the department in the Dear Colleague letter. 'This change is effective upon enactment and the Department is currently working with its student loan servicers to remove the partial financial hardship eligibility requirement from the IBR enrollment process.' New Student Loan Repayment Option For Parent PLUS Borrowers Another major change under the bill is that Parent PLUS borrowers who have already consolidated their loans by July 1, 2026 will be able to access the IBR plan. Under current law, Parent PLUS borrowers are ineligible for any income-driven repayment plan option unless they consolidate those loans into a Direct consolidation loan, at which point they would become eligible only for the ICR plan, which is more expensive than any other income-driven option. ICR will be phased out under the Big, Beautiful Bill, but these borrowers will be able to instead enroll in the IBR plan. Not only is IBR generally more affordable than ICR, but it also will allow Parent PLUS borrowers to be able to pursue eventual student loan forgiveness, including through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF. The change is effective immediately, according to the department. 'The OBBB allows borrowers with a consolidation loan that repaid a Parent PLUS Loan to enroll in an IBR plan effective upon enactment,' says the Dear Colleague letter. 'The Secretary will provide additional information to its federal loan servicers and update the website when the system is available to enable such borrowers to enroll in IBR.' Importantly, Parent PLUS borrowers must consolidate their loans through the Direct loan program by July 1, 2026 in order to be able to access IBR. Otherwise, these borrowers will be completely cut off from any income-driven repayment option and associated student loan forgiveness pathways, including through PSLF. RAP Will Qualify For Student Loan Forgivenes Through PSLF While the ICR, PAYE, and SAVE plans will be repealed, the Big, Beautiful Bill creates a new income-driven repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. RAP uses a different formula than the current income-driven options. For many borrowers, RAP will be more affordable than the older version of IBR for those who took out student loans prior to July 1, 2014, but much more expensive than the SAVE plan. RAP also stretches out the repayment term to 30 years before a borrower can qualify for student loan forgiveness, but the plan also includes a principal and interest subsidy for those whose payments aren't high enough to cover monthly interest accrual. RAP isn't yet available, but the department is expected to launch the new plan no later than July 1, 2026. And the department indicated that it is working to make RAP available much sooner than that. Once it is launched, RAP will be a qualifying repayment plan for borrowers pursuing student loan forgiveness through PSLF, effective immediately. 'The OBBB amends the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to allow for payments made under the newly created Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) to count toward loan forgiveness, if all other eligibility criteria are met,' says the Dear Colleague letter. 'The RAP was created by the OBBB and will be in effect no later than July 1, 2026. This PSLF provision is effective upon enactment, meaning that whenever the Department launches the RAP program, borrowers will be able to immediately get credit for PSLF under RAP.' Biden-Era Student Loan Forgiveness Rules Are Paused Immediately The Big, Beautiful Bill suspends Biden-era regulations governing two student loan forgiveness programs. The Borrower Defense to Repayment program allows borrowers to request a discharge of their federal student loans if their school engaged in certain kinds of misconduct, such as misrepresenting key statistics about admissions selectivity or employment prospects. The Closed School Discharge program allows borrowers to apply for relief if their school closed while they were enrolled, preventing them from completing their degree. The Biden administration enacted new regulations for both of these programs to make it easier for borrowers to qualify for loan forgiveness. But the Big, Beautiful Bill pauses these new regulations for 10 years. That doesn't mean that the programs themselves are fully repealed. But it leaves in place earlier versions of the regulations enacted under the first Trump administration that aren't nearly as favorable to borrowers. The Department of Education confirmed in its Dear Colleague letter that the pause takes immediate effect, which means the earlier Trump-era regulations governing these programs are now in place. 'The previous Trump Administration's Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations that were effective beginning July 1, 2020, will be effective as if the regulations were never amended during the Biden Administration for loans originated before July 1, 2035,' says the letter. 'This provision is effective upon enactment and the Department will publish a Federal Register notice shortly that restores the regulations that were in effect on July 1, 2020.' Additional Changes To Student Loan Programs Are Coming The Big, Beautiful Bill ensures that additional changes to federal student loan programs will occur over the course of the next several years, although those reforms are not immediate. Starting in July 2026, borrowers who take out new federal student loans or consolidate existing loans will lose access to the IBR plan, and their only repayment plan options will be RAP or a Standard plan (new Parent PLUS borrowers will only be able to access the Standard plan). And by July 1, 2028, the department will phase out the ICR, PAYE, and SAVE plans, and borrowers who want to remain on track for eventual student loan forgiveness under IDR or PSLF will need to switch to either the IBR plan or RAP. Many observers expect the department to phase out these plans (especially SAVE) well before 2028.

Indigenous group condemns Trump's call to restore controversial team names
Indigenous group condemns Trump's call to restore controversial team names

Toronto Sun

time22-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Toronto Sun

Indigenous group condemns Trump's call to restore controversial team names

Published Jul 21, 2025 • 3 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at an event in the East Room of the White House on Friday, July 18, 2025, in Washington. Photo by Alex Brandon / AP WASHINGTON — The Association on American Indian Affairs is condemning U.S President Donald Trump's call for Washington's football team to revert to its old name, saying any claim that Indigenous nations support the use of Indigenous-themed mascots is false. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'These mascots and names do not honour Native Peoples — they reduce us to caricatures,' the Association on American Indian Affairs said in a statement. 'Our diverse Peoples and cultures are not relics of the past or mascots for entertainment. Native Nations are sovereign, contemporary cultures who deserve respect and self-determination, not misrepresentation.' In a Sunday social media post, Trump threatened to hold up a new stadium deal if the NFL's Washington Commanders don't return to their old name, which was considered offensive by Indigenous Americans. In his post, the president claimed that 'Indians are being treated very unfairly.' The Commanders and the District of Columbia government announced a deal earlier this year to build a new home for the football team. It's not clear if Trump can delay the deal. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More The president also called for MLB's Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former name, which was also seen as offensive to Indigenous Peoples. In an earlier post, Trump called the NFL team the 'The Washington 'Whatever's' and claimed Indigenous people 'in massive numbers, want this to happen. 'Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!' Trump posted. The Association on American Indian Affairs is the is the oldest national Native American non-profit in the United States and has been operating for more than 100 years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It said Indigenous communities and experts have repeatedly and clearly said that these themed mascots are offensive and dehumanizing. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The association pointed to research that found that these mascots are consistently associated with negative health outcomes for Indigenous people, especially youth, and lead to lower self-esteem, increased psychological distress and harm to community well-being. 'There is no genuine respect for Native Nations here — only empty gestures and political theatre. Claiming that 'Indians are being treated very unfairly' while simultaneously gutting Native programs is hypocrisy at its worst,' the statement said. The Commanders and Guardians announced their name changes in 2020 as many sports franchises — including the CFL's Edmonton Elks — stopped using similar names and logos in response to decades of pushback from Indigenous activists and communities. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The year 2020 saw the emergence of a wave of racial justice protests triggered by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died during an arrest in Minneapolis. Since his return to the White House, Trump has rolled back many of the changes made in the wake of Floyd's death, including diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout government. The Elks dropped their former name in 2020 after years of criticism from representatives of the Inuit community, who called it offensive. The team was ultimately renamed the Elks the following year but the change divided some team supporters. A new regime at the Elks has been subtly embracing the old name this year — and even put up a sign with the old name in a slogan above the entrance to the Elks' locker-room. — With files from The Associated Press. Canada Columnists Celebrity Canada Columnists

Are ICE Agents Using Facial Recognition Phone App? What We Know
Are ICE Agents Using Facial Recognition Phone App? What We Know

Newsweek

time27-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Newsweek

Are ICE Agents Using Facial Recognition Phone App? What We Know

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigration agents have been given access to a facial recognition app to identify people in the field, according to leaked emails. The emails, exchanged between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) staff and contractors, allow officers to instantly compare biometrics like faces and fingerprints against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases, according to 404 Media. Newsweek contacted the DHS for comment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers gather for a briefing before an enforcement operation on January 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Maryland. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers gather for a briefing before an enforcement operation on January 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Maryland. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Why It Matters The emails say that the biometric tool is best used "to identify unknown subjects in the field," which, along with the contributions from staff at Enforcement and Removal Operations, suggests that it is being used in the Trump administration's attempts to ramp up the removal of migrants without legal status. President Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants as part of a hardline mass deportation policy. ICE has been facing intense scrutiny over its conduct, becoming a focal point in the national immigration debate. The White House has maintained that anyone residing in the United States illegally is a "criminal." What To Know In the emails, the app was referred to as "Mobile Fortify" and was recommended for use "in the field" to agents and contractors working with Enforcement and Removal Operations. "The Mobile Fortify App empowers users with real-time biometric identity verification capabilities utilizing contactless fingerprints and facial images captured by the camera on an ICE-issued cell phone without a secondary collection device," one email read. "Officers are reminded that the fingerprint matching is currently the most accurate biometric indicator available in the application." One former ICE agent, who requested anonymity because of concerns about potential repercussions, told Newsweek that ICE has always used such technology, which he said uses non-public databases. "We used [the] EDDIE app, which is fingerprint-based but would generate images," the former agent said. "This technology have been around for 15 or more years. It's just not fingerprints anymore. Photos can now be used. It pulls from our internal databases." The messages also indicated that ICE personnel had been given training in how to use the tool, with specific reference to officers learning how to capture facial images and fingerprints in a "training non-live environment." This is not the first time that the DHS has embraced new technology to crack down on immigration. In November, before the Trump administration entered the White House, AI-powered camera software was rolled out along the southern border, with the aim of spotting human traffickers, drug smugglers and migrants in distress in the gaps between Border Patrol stations. ICE agents have used the EDDIE app, which helps officers quickly fingerprint detainees and access databases in the field. It replaced bulky equipment that once took an hour to process data. Rolled out in 2015, the app allows fingerprints and photos to be taken and uploaded in about 30 seconds. What People Are Saying Attorney Andrew Fels told Newsweek: "We know that ICE and DHS and its various new contractors have a suite of privacy secrecy tools that are evolving and are sophisticated." What Happens Next The DHS has not confirmed how the app is being used. ICE agents continue to follow orders from the Trump administration on detaining and deporting illegal immigrants across the country.

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