Triforce of Trouble! Trump's Student Loan Changes Could Ruin Your Rupees!

Hyrule's Higher Education Hustle

By the Goddess Hylia! It seems the winds of change are blowing fiercely through the kingdom or rather the U.S. Department of Education. The Trump administration is apparently taking a Deku Stick to the $1.6 trillion federal student loan system! As a princess I'm used to royal decrees but this could affect a whole lot of folks including those who are bravely trying to slay their debt dragons. Acting Undersecretary James Bergeron says it's all about cutting 'unnecessary red tape,' which sounds suspiciously like something Ganondorf would say before unleashing more monsters.

SAVE the SAVE Plan? More Like Game Over

Remember the SAVE plan that old man Biden cooked up? Apparently it's facing a fate worse than being trapped in a bottle by Vaati. An appeals court blocked it siding with states that think Biden was trying to forgive debt through the back door. Now the Trump administration is unlikely to defend it which means many borrowers in interest free forbearance might soon be singing the Song of Storms. Scott Buchanan from the Student Loan Servicing Alliance says it's unlikely SAVE will 'survive.' Sounds like someone needs a fairy in a bottle!

Forgiveness? More Like Forget About It!

And just when you thought you could see the light at the end of the tunnel (or the Master Sword in its pedestal) it seems the Trump administration is revising other income driven repayment plans. Apparently PAYE and ICR might no longer include automatic loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. It's like finally reaching Ganon's tower only to find out you forgot your Hylian Shield! Mark Kantrowitz a higher education guru suggests these changes might become permanent. But fear not brave borrowers! Switching to IBR might still let you count previous payments. Just be sure to check all the dungeons... I mean details.

PSLF: Public Service... Loan... Maybe Forgiveness?

President Trump signed an executive order that aims to narrow eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It seems that if your organization does work involving 'illegal immigration human smuggling child trafficking pervasive damage to public property and disruption of the public order,' you might not be eligible. Seriously? Talk about specific criteria! The language is vague but it seems like some nonprofits could be in for a nasty surprise. It's as if Ganondorf is rewriting the prophecy to suit his evil plans.

Executive Orders and Dodgy Definitions

The recent order regarding PSLF and the targeted categories it mentions definitely seems to have a specific direction in mind. Many nonprofits work to increase diversity across the private and public sector provide legal support or engage in education; with the current language the possibility remains for these organizations to find themselves ineligible. Be careful out there! Always read the fine print especially when dealing with Dark Lords... I mean government regulations.

Retroactive Ruin? Not Quite!

Consumer advocates say that changes to PSLF can't be retroactive. So if you're working for an organization that gets the boot later you'll still get credit for the time you already put in! Phew that's a relief! Remember even Link has to face trial and error; even he has to figure out the puzzle before his efforts pay off! So keep fighting the good fight and may the Triforce be with you... and your student loans!