Gillibrand Launches New Effort To Press The Trump Administration On Federal Student Loan Relief

Gillibrand Launches New Effort To Press The Trump Administration On Federal Student Loan Relief

Apr 28, 2026

New datasuggests that over 640,000 student loan borrowers remain stuck in application backlogs for student loan repayment plans and loan forgiveness programs.

This backlog could force thousands of New Yorkers to default on their loans, creating further financial stress for working families already struggling amid rising costs.

Amid a cost of living crisis that is crushing working families across New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference on her new efforts to press the Trump administration to provide relief to student loan borrowers.

Earlier this month, the Department of Education released new data indicating that over 640,000 student loan borrowers are stuck in application backlogs for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) plans. While these applications are processed-which is taking months due to the backlog-borrowers are forced to watch their loans accrue interest, increasing their debt for no fault of their own.

Today, Gillibrand demanded that Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon develop a plan to address the student loan backlogs immediately. She also demanded answers from the department about the impact of these backlogs on New Yorkers.

"Working Americans are already struggling to make ends meet as prices rise on everything from groceries to gas in President Trump's economy. Adding thousands of dollars of student loan debt on top of these rising costs is a recipe for disaster for working New Yorkers," said Senator Gillibrand. "The Trump administration must immediately address the backlog of student loan forgiveness and repayment applications and provide relief to student loan borrowers. I'm demanding answers about this backlog and its impact on New Yorkers, and I'll keep pressing the administration until the backlog is resolved."

About 43 million Americans nationwide have student loan debt, including over 2.4 million New Yorkers. In total, New York borrowers owe nearly $100 billion in student loan debt, meaning that the average New York borrower has about $40,000 of debt.

The IDR and PSLF application processing backlog follows the Trump administration's move earlier this year to terminate the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which had helped millions of student loan borrowers lower their monthly student loan payments. The termination of the SAVE Plan will force millions of borrowers to submit applications for new repayment plans, causing the application backlogs to grow further and increasing wait times even more.

Full text of Gillibrand's letter to Secretary McMahon can be found here.

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